what of it?" exclaimed Valentine, on the point of ordering
Celeste to leave the room, for it seemed to her quite outrageous to be
disturbed in this manner.

"Well, madame, she's here; and as I told you before, if you would
intrust her with the matter now she would find a very good wet nurse for
you in the country, and bring her here whenever she's wanted."

La Couteau had been standing behind the door, which had remained
ajar, and scarcely had Celeste finished than, without waiting for an
invitation, she boldly entered the room. She was a quick little wizened
woman, with certain peasant ways, but considerably polished by her
frequent journeys to Paris. So far as her small keen eyes and pointed
nose went her long face was not unpleasant, but its expression of
good nature was marred by her hard mouth, her thin lips, suggestive of
artfulness and cupidity. Her gown of dark woollen stuff, her black
cape, black mittens, and black cap with yellow ribbons, gave her the
appearance of a respectable countrywoman going to mass in her Sunday
best.

"Have you been a nurse?" Valentine inquired, as she scrutinized her.

"Yes, madame," replied La Couteau, "but that was ten years ago, when I
was only twenty. It seemed to me that I wasn't likely to make much money
by remaining a nurse, and so I preferred to set up as an agent to bring
others to Paris."

As she spoke she smiled, like an intelligent woman who feels that those
who give their services as wet nurses to bourgeois families are simply
fools and dupes. However, she feared that she might have said too much
on the point, and so she added: "But one does what one can, eh, madame?
The doctor told me that I should never do for a nurse again, and so
I thought that I might perhaps help the poor little dears in another
manner."

"And you bring wet nurses to the Paris offices?"

"Yes, madame, twice a month. I supply several offices, but more
particularly Madame Broquette's office in the Rue Roquepine. It's a very
respectable place, where one runs no risk of being deceived--And so, if
you like, madame, I will choose the very best I can find for you--the
pick of the bunch, so to say. I know the business thoroughly, and you
can rely on me."

As her mistress did not immediately reply, Celeste ventured to
intervene, and began by explaining how it happened that La Couteau had
called that day.

"When she goes back into the country, madame, she almost always takes
a baby with her, somet