r
money. I know very well that in our calling there are some people who
are hardly honest, who speculate and ask for commissions, and then put
out nurslings at cheap rates and rob both the parents and the nurse.
It's really not right to treat these dear little things as if they were
goods--poultry or vegetables. When folks do that I can understand that
their hearts get hardened, and that they pass the little ones on from
hand to hand without any more care than if they were stock-in-trade. But
then, monsieur, I'm an honest woman; I'm authorized by the mayor of our
village; I hold a certificate of morality, which I can show to anybody.
If ever you should come to Rougemont, just ask after Sophie Couteau
there. Folks will tell you that I'm a hard-working woman, and don't owe
a copper to a soul!"

Mathieu could not help looking at her to see how unblushingly she thus
praised herself. And her speech struck him as if it were a premeditated
reply to all that Victoire had related of her, for, with the keen scent
of a shrewd peasant woman, she must have guessed that charges had been
brought against her. When she felt that his piercing glance was diving
to her very soul, she doubtless feared that she had not lied with
sufficient assurance, and had somehow negligently betrayed herself; for
she did not insist, but put on more gentleness of manner, and contented
herself with praising Rougemont in a general way, saying what a perfect
paradise it was, where the little ones were received, fed, cared for,
and coddled as if they were all sons of princes. Then, seeing that the
gentleman uttered never a word, she became silent once more. It was
evidently useless to try to win him over. And meantime the cab rolled
and rolled along; streets followed streets, ever noisy and crowded; and
they crossed the Seine and at last drew near to the Luxembourg. It was
only after passing the palace gardens that La Couteau again began:

"Well, it's that young person's own affair if she imagines that her
child will be better off for passing through the Foundling. I don't
attack the Administration, but you know, monsieur, there's a good deal
to be said on the matter. At Rougemont we have a number of nurslings
that it sends us, and they don't grow any better or die less frequently
than the others. Well, well, people are free to act as they fancy; but
all the same I should like you to know, as I do, all that goes on in
there."

The cab had stopped at the top