uble, a lot of money. However, we mustn't talk about all that this
morning, since we want to enjoy ourselves."

At last the train reached Paris, and the Lepailleurs, leaving the
Northern terminus, were caught and carried off by the impetuously
streaming crowd.

When Mathieu and Marianne alighted from their cab on the Quai d'Orsay,
in front of the Beauchenes' residence, they recognized the Seguins'
brougham drawn up beside the foot pavement. And within it they perceived
the two girls, Lucie and Andree, waiting mute and motionless in their
light-colored dresses. Then, as they approached the door, they saw
Valentine come out, in a very great hurry as usual. On recognizing them,
however, she assumed an expression of deep pity, and spoke the words
required by the situation:

"What a frightful misfortune, is it not? an only son!"

Then she burst out into a flood of words: "You have hastened here, I
see, as I did; it is only natural. I heard of the catastrophe only by
chance less than an hour ago. And you see my luck! My daughters were
dressed, and I myself was dressing to take them to a wedding--a cousin
of our friend Santerre is marrying a diplomatist. And, in addition, I am
engaged for the whole afternoon. Well, although the wedding is fixed for
a quarter-past eleven, I did not hesitate, but drove here before going
to the church. And naturally I went upstairs alone. My daughters have
been waiting in the carriage. We shall no doubt be a little late for
the wedding. But no matter! You will see the poor parents in their empty
house, near the body, which, I must say, they have laid out very nicely
on the bed. Oh! it is heartrending."

Mathieu was looking at her, surprised to see that she did not age. The
fiery flame of her wild life seemed to scorch and preserve her. He knew
that her home was now completely wrecked. Seguin openly lived with Nora,
the governess, for whom he had furnished a little house. It was there
even that he had given Mathieu an appointment to sign the final transfer
of the Chantebled property. And since Gaston had entered the military
college of St. Cyr, Valentine had only her two daughters with her in the
spacious, luxurious mansion of the Avenue d'Antin, which ruin was slowly
destroying.

"I think," resumed Madame Seguin, "that I shall tell Gaston to obtain
permission to attend the funeral. For I am not sure whether his father
is in Paris. It's just the same with our friend Santerre; he's starting