reached thus far when the Schoolmaster received the just
punishment of his crimes; since which period, by order of my lord, fresh
inquiries have been instituted, of which the following is the result.

"Francois Germain lived for about three months at No. 17 Rue du Temple,
a house rendered worthy of observation by the habits and ingenious
practices of its inhabitants. Germain was a great favourite among them,
by reason of his kind and amiable disposition, as well as for the frank
gaiety of his temper. Although his means of livelihood appeared very
slender, yet he had rendered the most generous assistance to an indigent
family occupying the garrets of the house. In vain has been every
inquiry made in the Rue du Temple touching the present residence of
Francois Germain, or the profession he was supposed to follow; every one
in the house believed him to be employed in some counting-house, or
office, as he went out early in the morning and never returned till late
in the evening. The only person who really knows the present residence
of the young man is a female, lodging in the house No. 17 Rue du
Temple,--a young and pretty grisette, named Rigolette, between whom and
Germain a very close acquaintance appears to have existed. She occupies
the adjoining room to that which Germain tenanted, and which chamber, by
the by, is still vacant; and it was under pretext of inquiring about it
that these particulars were obtained."

"Rigolette!" exclaimed Murphy, after having been for several minutes
apparently in deep thought. "Yes, I am sure I know her."

"_You!_ Sir Walter Murphy," replied the baron, much amused. "You, most
worthy and respectable father of a family! _you_ know anything of pretty
grisettes! And so the name of Mlle. Rigolette is familiar to you, is it?
Fie, fie! Oh, positively I am ashamed of you!"

"'Pon my soul, my lord compelled me to have so many strange
acquaintances, that such a mere trifle as this should pass for nothing.
But wait a bit. Yes, now I recollect perfectly, that when my lord was
relating the history of La Goualeuse, I could not help laughing at the
very odd name of Rigolette, which, as far as I can call to mind, was the
name of a prison acquaintance of that poor Fleur-de-Marie."

"Well, then, just at this particular juncture Mlle. Rigolette may be of
the utmost service to us. Let me conclude my report:

"There might possibly be an advantage in engaging the vacant chamber
recently belonging to Ger