?" inquired Rodolph.

"M. Rodolph, I have told you: she had scarcely entered my room, when,
seeing the crucifix, she fell on her knees before it. It is impossible
for me to tell you, to describe the spontaneous and naturally religious
feeling that evidently dictated this. I saw in an instant that hers was
no degraded soul. And then, M. Rodolph, the expression of her gratitude
to you had nothing exaggerated in it; but it is not the less sincere.
And I have another proof of how natural and potent is this religious
instinct in her. I said to her, 'You must have been much astonished, and
very happy, when M. Rodolph told you that you were to remain here for
the future? What an effect it must have had on you!' 'Yes, oh, yes,' was
her reply; 'when M. Rodolph told me so, I cannot describe what passed
within me; but I felt that kind of holy happiness which I experience in
going into a church. When I could go there,' she added, 'for you know,
madame--' 'I know, my child, for I shall always call you my child (I
could not let her go on when I saw her cover her face for shame), I know
that you have suffered deeply; but God blesses those who love and fear
him, those who have been unhappy, and those who repent.'"

"Then, my good Madame Georges, I am doubly happy at what I have done.
This poor girl will greatly interest you, her disposition is so
excellent, her instincts so right."

"What has besides affected me, M. Rodolph, is that she has not allowed
one single question to escape her about you, although her curiosity
must be so much excited. Struck with a reserve so full of delicacy, I
wished to know what she felt. I said to her, 'You must be very curious
to know who your mysterious benefactor is?' 'Know him!' she replied,
with delightful simplicity; 'he is my benefactor.'"

"Then you will love her. Excellent woman! she will find some interest in
your heart."

"Yes, I shall occupy my heart with her as I should with _him_," said
Madame Georges, in a broken voice.

Rodolph took her hand.

"Do not be discouraged; come, come, if our search has been unsuccessful
so far, yet one day, perhaps--"

Madame Georges shook her head sorrowfully, and said, in bitter accents,
"My poor son would be now twenty years old!"

"Say he is that age--"

"God hear you, and grant it, M. Rodolph."

"He will hear, I fully believe. Yesterday I went (but in vain) to find a
certain fellow called Bras Rouge who might, perhaps, have given me some
inform