that she never
allowed her to speak to a man either abroad or at home. Had
it not been so, he would have had easy access to her; for as
she was a solicitor's daughter and he was an advocate, they
were in relations of close affinity and sympathy--such as
allow as prompt acquaintance as that of a servant-maid with
a _valet-de-chambre_.[264]

As soon as the service was over and he could join her, he
said, as though with the most delicate attention,
"Mademoiselle, as far as I can judge, you cannot have failed
to be lucky in your collection, being so deserving and so
beautiful." "Alas! Sir," replied Javotte in the most
ingenuous fashion, "you must excuse me. I have just been
counting it up with the Father Sacristan, and I have only
made 65 livres 5 sous. Now, Mademoiselle Henriette made 90
livres a little time since; 'tis true she collected all
through the forty hours'[265] service, and in a place where
there was the finest Paradise ever seen." "When I spoke,"
said Nicodeme, "of the luck of your collection, I was not
only speaking of the charity you got for the poor and the
church; I meant as well what you gained for yourself." "Oh,
Sir!" replied Javotte, "I assure you I gained nothing. There
was not a farthing more than I told you; and besides, can
you think I would butter my own bread[266] on such an
occasion? 'Twould be a great sin even to think of it." "I
was not speaking," said Nicodeme, "of gold or silver. I only
meant that nobody can have given you his alms without at the
same time giving you his heart." "I don't know," quoth
Javotte, "what you mean by hearts; I didn't see one in the
plate." "I meant," added Nicodeme, "that everybody before
whom you stopped must, when he saw such beauty, have vowed
to love and serve you, and have given you his heart. For my
own part I could not possibly refuse you mine." Javotte
answered him naively, "Well! Sir, if you gave it me I must
have replied at once, 'God give it back to you.'"[267]
"What!" cried Nicodeme rather angrily, "can you jest with me
when I am so much in earnest, and treat in such a way the
most passionate of all your lovers?" Whereat Javotte blushed
as she answered, "Sir, pray be careful how you speak. I am
an honest girl. I have no lovers. Mamma has expressly
for