The head of the house
of Collinet, whose failure in 1814 had caused the Lorrains a loss of
twenty-four thousand francs, had gone to America with his children after
his disasters. He had too high a courage to remain a ruined man. After
eleven years of untold effort crowned by success he returned to Nantes
to recover his position, leaving his eldest son in charge of his
transatlantic house. He found Madame Lorrain of Pen-Hoel in the
institution of Saint-Jacques, and was witness of the resignation with
which this most unfortunate of his creditors bore her misery.

"God forgive you!" said the old woman, "since you give me on the
borders of my grave the means of securing the happiness of my dear
granddaughter; but alas! it will not clear the debts of my poor
husband!"

Monsieur Collinet made over to the widow both the capital and the
accrued interest, amounting to about forty-two thousand francs. His
other creditors, prosperous, rich, and intelligent merchants, had easily
born their losses, whereas the misfortunes of the Lorrains seemed so
irremediable to old Monsieur Collinet that he promised the widow to pay
off her husband's debts, to the amount of forty thousand francs more.
When the Bourse of Nantes heard of this generous reparation they wished
to receive Collinet to their board before his certificates were granted
by the Royal court at Rennes; but the merchant refused the honor,
preferring to submit to the ordinary commercial rule.

Madame Lorrain had received the money only the day before the post
brought her Brigaut's letter, enclosing that of Pierrette. Her first
thought had been, as she signed the receipt: "Now I can live with my
Pierrette and marry her to that good Brigaut, who will make a fortune
with my money."

Therefore the moment she had read the fatal letters she made instant
preparations to start for Provins. She left Nantes that night by the
mail; for some one had explained to her its celerity. In Paris she took
the diligence for Troyes, which passes through Provins, and by half-past
eleven at night she reached Frappier's, where Brigaut, shocked at her
despairing looks, told her of Pierrette's state and promised to bring
the poor girl to her instantly. His words so terrified the grandmother
that she could not control her impatience and followed him to the
square. When Pierrette screamed, the horror of that cry went to her
heart as sharply as it did to Brigaut's. Together they would have roused
the nei