ut that he would employ, at least, a portion of this money in
the bringing-up of this unhappy child."

"And your son had no sign, no mark, by which he could be recognised?"

"No other than that of which I have spoken to you, M. Rodolph,--a small
Saint Esprit, sculptured in lapis lazuli, tied round his neck by a chain
of silver: a sacred relic, blessed by the holy father."

"Courage, courage; God is all-powerful."

"Providence placed me in your path, M. Rodolph."

"Too late, Madame Georges; too late. I might have saved you many years
of sorrow."

"Ah, M. Rodolph, how kind you have been to me!"

"In what way? I bought this farm; in time of your prosperity you were
not idle, and now you have become my manager here, where--thanks to your
excellent superintendence, intelligence, and activity--this
establishment produces me--"

"Produces you, my lord?" said Madame Georges, interrupting Rodolph;
"why, all the returns are employed, not only in ameliorating the
condition of the labourers, who consider the occupation on this model
farm as a great favour, but, moreover, to succour all the needy in the
district; through the mediation of our good Abbe Laporte--"

"Ah, the dear abbe!" said Rodolph, desirous of escaping the praise of
Madame Georges; "have you had the kindness to inform him of my arrival?
I wish to recommend my protegee to him. He has had my letter?"

"Mr. Murphy gave it to him when he came this morning."

"In that letter I told our good cure, in a few words, the history of
this poor girl. I was not sure that I should be able to come to-day
myself, and if not, then Murphy would have conducted Marie--"

A labourer of the farm interrupted this conversation, which had been
carried on in the garden.

"Madame, M. le Cure is waiting for you."

"Are the post-horses arrived, my lad?" inquired Rodolph.

"Yes, M. Rodolph; and they are putting to." And the man left the garden.

Madame Georges, the cure, and the inhabitants of the farm only knew
Fleur-de-Marie's protector as M. Rodolph. Murphy's discretion was
faultless; and although when in private he was very precise in
"my-lording" Rodolph, yet before strangers he was very careful not to
address him otherwise than as _M. Rodolph_.

"I forgot to mention, my dear Madame Georges," said Rodolph, when he
returned to the house, "that Marie has, I fear, very weak
lungs,--privations and misery have tried her health. This morning early
I was struck with the pallor of