He walked in, and, still out of
breath from his rapid ascension,

"I am glad to find you in," he exclaimed. The young girl was busy,
arranging upon her bed a dress of very light colored silk, trimmed
with ruches and lace, an overdress to match, and a bonnet of
wonderful shape, loaded with the most brilliant feathers and flowers.

"You see what brings me here," she replied. "I came home to dress.
At two o'clock the carriage is coming to take me to the bois, where
I am to exhibit this costume, certainly the most ridiculous that Van
Klopen has yet made me wear."

A smile flitted upon Maxence's lips.

"Who knows," said he, "if this is not the last time you will have
to perform this odious task? Ah, my friend! what events have taken
place since I last saw you!"

"Fortunate ones?"

"You will judge for yourself."

He closed the door carefully, and, returning to Mlle. Lucienne,

"Do you know the Marquis de Tregars?" he asked.

"No more than you do. It was yesterday, at the commissary of police,
that I first heard his name."

"Well, before a month, M. de Tregars will be Mlle. Gilberte Favoral's
husband."

"Is it possible?" exclaimed Mlle. Lucienne with a look of extreme
surprise.

But, instead of answering,

"You told me," resumed Maxence, "that once, in a day of supreme
distress, you had applied to Mme. de Thaller for assistance, whereas
you were actually entitled to an indemnity for having been run over
and seriously hurt by her carriage."

"That is true."

"Whilst you were in the vestibule, waiting for an answer to your
letter, which a servant had taken up stairs, M. de Thaller came in;
and, when he saw you, he could not repress a gesture of surprise,
almost of terror."

"That is true too."

"This behavior of M. de Thaller always remained an enigma to you."

"An inexplicable one."

"Well, I think that I can explain it to you now."

"You?"

Lowering his voice; for he knew that at the Hotel des Folies there
was always to fear some indiscreet ear.

"Yes, I," he answered; "and for the reason that yesterday, when M.
de Tregars appeared in my mother's parlor, I could not suppress an
exclamation of surprise, for the reason, Lucienne, that, between
Marius de Tregars and yourself, there is a resemblance with which it
is impossible not to be struck."

Mlle. Lucienne had become very pale.

"What do you suppose, then?" she asked.

"I believe, my friend, that we are very near penetrating at once th