n Jaws, and with him was
this Fanfar, if I don't mistake."

"Precisely, and this Fanfar is your brother, I heard him say so,
himself, when I went to help you. He said to me, 'she is my sister--'"

"Where is he? I must see him. He saved my life. Suppose that he is
Jacques! But no, poor Jacques is dead!"

Irene could not help the poor girl; although she fully believed in the
truth of what Fanfar had said, she could offer no proof.

Suddenly Francine exclaimed, "If he is my Jacques, he ought to be about
twenty. He ought to be very handsome."

Irene colored, as she said, "He is handsome!"

"With black eyes, and brown curling hair?"

Irene was unwilling to admit that she had studied Fanfar in all these
details, but she stammered out, "Yes, that describes him."

"For pity's sake, tell me all you know!"

Irene asked herself why she should hesitate. After all there was nothing
to be ashamed of in her sentiments towards Fanfar.

"I will tell you all," she said, in a low voice.

"Why are you so disturbed?" asked Francine. "When you mention the name
of this Fanfar, you have tears in your eyes."

Irene buried her face on her friend's shoulder: "I love him!" she
whispered, "and I love you as if you were my sister!"

The two young girls embraced each other tenderly.

"But where is he?" said Francine, disengaging herself, "I wish to see
him."

Irene started. Alas! amid all these emotions she had forgotten the sad
truth that the brother, whom Francine ardently desired to embrace, was
in a narrow cell, crushed under the accusation of an attempt on the life
of the king.

"Why do you not tell me where I can find him?" asked Francine, her eyes
bright with fever.

At this moment the door opened, and a tall and stately individual, known
as Madame Ursula, made a sign to Irene, who instantly obeyed the
summons, glad to avoid the necessity of replying to Francine's
questions.

"What is it?" she said.

Madame Ursula was unchanged. She was still in a constant state of horror
at Irene's conduct and defiance of conventionalities.

"A very strange looking man wishes to speak to the young lady."

"She can not receive him," replied Irene, promptly.

"So I supposed, but I delivered the message because I thought she knew
this person, and I myself have seen him before." Madame Ursula looked
down in some confusion. "He was pretending to be a frog, on a certain
occasion--"

"I do not understand you."

"He is one of those clo