n without being molested, so alert were the soldiers in pursuit
of the fugitives; and he had brought the few effects which he could get
together for his master on leaving Paris to a safe place; and to prevent
suspicion, he himself had taken service with a respectable _traiteur_.
By degrees, I managed to bring off every thing belonging to my guests,
and we fitted up the little room in which you passed the night, as
comfortably as possible, without having it excite remark from any one
casually entering it. "Albert" was industrious, aiding me at my work, no
matter what I was doing, and "Victorine," too, insisted upon helping my
wife in whatever she did, here, there, and everywhere, the liveliest,
the merriest, the most innocent creature I ever set eyes upon. But for
all that, one could see that time hung heavy on the comte. He became
thoughtful and _triste_, and like every man out of his proper place, he
was restless and uneasy. Not so the dear wife: she declared she had
never been so happy, that she had her Albert all to herself: wanted
nothing more: if she but knew how to requite _us_, she would not wish
the estates back again--she would live where she was, forever. Then her
husband would throw his arms around her, and call her by endearing
names, which would make the little thing look so serious, but at the
same time so calm and satisfied and angel-like, that it seemed as if the
divine soul of the Holy Virgin had taken possession of her, as she
turned her eyes up to her husband and met his, looking lovingly
down....'

"Here Louis Herbois stopped, and felt for his handkerchief, and blew his
nose until the walls resounded, and wiped his eyes as if trying to
remove something that was in them, and proceeded--

"'Any one to have seen her at different times would have sworn I had two
little women for guests instead of one: so full of fun and mischief and
all sorts of pranks; so lively, running hither and yon, teasing me,
amusing Agathe, rallying her husband; but on the occasions I mention, so
subdued, so thoughtful so--different from her other self: _Ciel!_ she
had all our hearts.

"'Several months passed, much in the same manner. The comte by degrees
gained courage, and often ventured away from the house. Twice he had
been to the town, but his wife was in such terror during his absence,
that he promised her he would not venture again. He continued meanwhile
moody and ill at ease; it would be madness to leave his place of