call her by that ugly, common
name. Well, the governor has gone mad about her, and filed a complaint
against her of decoying a minor, as if I was a fellow any one could
decoy. Well, the end of it was, that she is now in the prison of St.
Lazare."

The tears started to the young man's eyes as he related this grievance.

"Poor Zora," he added; "I was never mashed on a woman like I was on her.
And then what a splendid form she has! Why, the hairdresser said he had
never seen such hair in his life; and she is at St. Lazare. As soon as
the police came for her, her first thoughts were of me, and she shrieked
out, 'Poor Gaston will kill himself when he hears of this.' The cook
told me this, and added that her mistress's sufferings were terrible.
And she is at St. Lazare. I tried to see her, but it was no go;" and
here the boy's voice broke into a sob.

"Come," said Andre, "keep up your spirits."

"Ah! you shall see if, as soon as I am twenty-one, I don't marry her.
I don't put all the blame on the old man. He has been advised by his
lawyer, a beast by the name of Catenac. Do you know _him_?"

"No."

"You don't seem to know any one. Well, I shall send him a challenge
to-morrow. I have got my seconds all ready. By the way, would you like
to act for me? I can easily get rid of one of the others."

"I have had no experience in such matters."

"Ah, then you would be of no use. My seconds must put him into a regular
blue funk."

"In that case--"

"No; I know what you are going to say: you mean that I had best look out
for a military swell; but, after all, the matter lies in a nutshell. I
am the insulted party, and draw pistols at ten paces. If that frightens
him, he will make the governor drop all this rubbish."

Had his mind not been so much occupied, this rhodomontade on Gaston's
part would have amused Andre very much, but now he asked himself what
would be the quickest way to escape from him.

Just at this moment a servant emerged from the house.

"Sir," said he, addressing Andre, "my master has seen you from his
window, and begs that you will go up to him at once."

"I will be with him immediately," answered Andre; and, holding out his
hand to Gaston, he took leave of him with a few words of encouragement.

CHAPTER XXII.

A GENTLEMAN IN DIFFICULTIES.

When Andre had got rid of the young man, and had been ushered into M.
Gandelu's presence, the change in the gentleman's appearance struck him
with horror.