gularly
made out. The name that had been given her of the Marquise was not given
unkindly. She was neither vain nor proud, but she wore her simple woolen
gown in such a dainty fashion, and put the little kerchief on her head
in such a way, that the people called her the Marquise. But to return to
our tale.

"I am going out, mamma," said Francine, "and you will be very good while
I am away, will you not?"

"Yes, Cinette--yes."

"You will not try to get up?"

"No, Cinette."

"And to-morrow you shall have a pretty new cap--"

"With ribbons?"

"Yes, with ribbons."

The woman laughed with delight, but presently she uttered a cry of
distress.

"The box! the box!--where is the box?"

Francine had heard this same exclamation over and over again, and
attached no significance to it, but to humor the invalid, she answered:

"Oh! you shall have the box."

"Yes, I must have it. Everything is in it--fortune, money, titles. Where
have I put it?"

Her voice dropped so low that Francine could hardly hear her.

It was time for the girl to go out, and, as it was Mardi Gras, she hoped
for large receipts. She returned to her chamber and took her guitar.
Just as she was going out, she heard a knock on her door. She started,
and called out:

"Who is it?"

"A friend?"

"Your name?"

"You do not know me."

"Tell me your name."

A stifled oath was the reply.

"Open the door, I say. My name is Robeccal."

The young girl drew a breath of relief, for she was becoming sorely
frightened by the pursuit of the Vicomte, and an unusual knock made her
feel that it was he. But the voice and the name of Robeccal
tranquillized her fears. She opened the door--our old friend of the
circus stood before her. He began to grumble and scold.

"I beg your pardon," said the girl, gently, "but I am in haste, and
if--"

"Suppose you offer me a chair, young lady! What manners!"

Francine repeated that she was in haste, and would be glad to know the
occasion of his visit. Her manner was so decided that Robeccal saw that
he must speak.

"I have come," he said, "to put you in the way of earning a little
money."

"Go on."

"I assist in restaurants on fete days. I am an 'extra,' you understand,
and am now at the _Veau Saute_, at the corner. You know--"

"I know the establishment, certainly."

"Well, the master wishes to give a little entertainment to his customers
to-night, and I thought of you. He will give you twenty francs."