my dear Noel, tell me what it is."

"I cannot now."

"Tell me I beseech you," pleaded the young woman, hanging round his
neck, raising herself upon the tips of her toes to press her lips to
his. The advocate embraced her; and his resolution seemed to waver.

"No," said he at length, "seriously I cannot. Of what use to awaken in
you hopes which can never be realized? Now, my darling, listen to me.
Whatever may happen, understand, you must under no pretext whatever
again come to my house, as you once had the imprudence to do. Do not
even write to me. By disobeying, you may do me an irreparable injury. If
any accident occurs, send that old rascal Clergot to me. I shall have
a visit from him the day after to-morrow, for he holds some bills of
mine."

Juliette recoiled, menacing Noel with a mutinous gesture. "You will not
tell me anything?" insisted she.

"Not this evening, but very soon," replied the advocate, embarrassed by
the piercing glance of his mistress.

"Always some mystery!" cried Juliette, piqued at the want of success
attending her blandishments.

"This will be the last, I swear to you!"

"Noel, my good man," said the young woman in a serious tone, "you are
hiding something from me. I understand you, as you know; for several
days past there has been something or other the matter with you, you
have completely changed."

"I swear to you, Juliette--"

"No, swear nothing; I should not believe you. Only remember, no attempt
at deceiving me, I forewarn you. I am a woman capable of revenge."

The advocate was evidently ill at ease. "The affair in question,"
stammered he, "can as well fail as succeed."

"Enough," interrupted Juliette; "your will shall be obeyed. I promise
that. Come, sir, kiss me. I am going to bed."

The door was hardly shut upon Noel when Charlotte was installed on the
divan near her mistress. Had the advocate been listening at the door,
he might have heard Madame Juliette saying, "No, really, I can no longer
endure him. What a bore he is, my girl. Ah! if I was not so afraid of
him, wouldn't I leave him at once? But he is capable of killing me!"

The girl vainly tried to defend Noel; but her mistress did not listen.
She murmured, "Why does he absent himself, and what is he plotting? An
absence of eight days is suspicious. Can he by any chance intend to be
married? Ah! if I only knew. You weary me to death, my good Noel, and I
am determined to leave you to yourself one of these fine mo