s that united Madame Clapart with Pierrotin, and authorized the
two confidential remarks which they have just exchanged.

Often--that is to say, three or four times a month--Pierrotin, on his
way to Paris, would find the steward on the road near La Cave. As soon
as the vehicle came up, Moreau would sign to a gardener, who, with
Pierrotin's help, would put upon the coach either one or two baskets
containing the fruits and vegetables of the season, chickens, eggs,
butter, and game. The steward always paid the carriage and Pierrotin's
fee, adding the money necessary to pay the toll at the barriere, if
the baskets contained anything dutiable. These baskets, hampers, or
packages, were never directed to any one. On the first occasion, which
served for all others, the steward had given Madame Clapart's address by
word of mouth to the discreet Pierrotin, requesting him never to deliver
to others the precious packages. Pierrotin, impressed with the idea
of an intrigue between the steward and some pretty girl, had gone as
directed to number 7 rue de la Cerisaie, in the Arsenal quarter, and had
there found the Madame Clapart just portrayed, instead of the young and
beautiful creature he expected to find.

The drivers of public conveyances and carriers are called by their
business to enter many homes, and to be cognizant of many secrets; but
social accident, that sub-providence, having willed that they be without
education and devoid of the talent of observation, it follows that they
are not dangerous. Nevertheless, at the end of a few months, Pierrotin
was puzzled to explain the exact relations of Monsieur Moreau and Madame
Clapart from what he saw of the household in the rue de la Cerisaie.
Though lodgings were not dear at that time in the Arsenal quarter,
Madame Clapart lived on a third floor at the end of a court-yard, in a
house which was formerly that of a great family, in the days when the
higher nobility of the kingdom lived on the ancient site of the Palais
des Tournelles and the hotel Saint-Paul. Toward the end of the sixteenth
century, the great seigneurs divided among themselves these vast spaces,
once occupied by the gardens of the kings of France, as indicated by the
present names of the streets,--Cerisaie, Beautreillis, des Lions, etc.
Madame Clapart's apartment, which was panelled throughout with ancient
carvings, consisted of three connecting rooms, a dining-room, salon, and
bedroom. Above it was the kitchen, and a