out her,
which is, they tell me, a strong characteristic of the Transteverine
peasant-women. When she announced our names Monsieur Dorlange was
standing in a rather picturesque working costume with his back to us,
and I noticed that he hastily drew an ample curtain before the statue on
which he was engaged.

At the moment when he turned round, and before I had time to look
at him, imagine my astonishment when Nais ran forward and, with the
artlessness of a child, flung her arms about his neck crying out:--

"Are! here is my monsieur who saved me!"

What! the monsieur who saved her? Then Monsieur Dorlange must be the
famous Unknown?--Yes, my dear friend, I now recognized him. Chance, that
cleverest of romance-makers, willed that Monsieur Dorlange and my bore
were one. Happily, my husband had launched into the expression of his
feelings as a grateful father; I thus had time to recover myself, and
before it became my turn to say a word, I had installed upon my face
what you are pleased to call my grand l'Estorade air; under which, as
you know, I mark twenty-five degrees below zero, and can freeze the
words on the lips of any presuming person.

As for Monsieur Dorlange, he seemed to me less troubled than surprised
by the meeting. Then, as if he thought we kept him too long on the topic
of our gratitude, he abruptly changed the subject.

"Madame," he said to me, "since we are, as it seems, more acquainted
than we thought, may I dare to gratify my curiosity?"--

I fancied I saw the claw of a cat preparing to play with its mouse, so I
answered, coldly:--

"Artists, I am told, are often indiscreet in their curiosity."

I put a well-marked stiffness into my manner which completed the meaning
of the words. I could not see that it baffled him.

"I hope," he replied, "that my question is not of that kind. I only
desire to ask if you have a sister."

"No, monsieur," I replied, "I have no sister--none, at least, that I
know of," I added, jestingly.

"I thought it not unlikely, however," continued Monsieur Dorlange, in
the most natural manner possible; "for the family in which I have met a
lady bearing the strongest resemblance to you is surrounded by a certain
mysterious atmosphere which renders all suppositions possible."

"Is there any indiscretion in asking the name of that family?"

"Not the least; they are people whom you must have known in Paris in
1829-1830. They lived in great state and gave fine parties. I mys