orning, Adele's first thoughts were
about her father and his workman. What was he going to question him
about? Ah! he had perhaps seen her through the window, giving a
letter to the old man and cautioning him.

When they had finished breakfasting, Adele, who began to hope her
father had completely forgotten all about his workman, was very
much annoyed when Mr. Rougeant told her to tell Jacques to come and
speak to him.

She searched out the old man, and, having found him, she said to
him: "Did you see Mr. Mathers yesterday evening?"

"Yes, Miss," he answered, taking care to speak in his native tongue
this time; "I saw him. He thanked me and asked a few questions about
your health and Mr. Rougeant's foot."

"I am very much obliged to you," said Adele, "and now, you must come
and talk to my father. I think he means to question you, but you
will be on your guard; will you not?"

"Oh, he is not the man to take me in. If he asks me if you gave me a
letter yesterday, or anything else concerning you, I know what to
answer him."

"You will speak the truth?"

"Speak the truth and be taken in, not I; there's no harm in fibbing
when it's for doing good, Miss."

"If you are prepared to utter falsehoods, Jacques, for the sake of
shielding me, you will lose my approbation. I shall be very angry
with you if you do so. You understand; you must not swerve from the
path of truth."

"Well, I never," said Jacques, "and it was all for your sake. We
shall see. I'm not going to let your father learn anything from me.
Jerusalem, I would rather pull the hair off my head."

"The plain truth," said Adele, shaking her forefinger at him and
looking very severe.

"I know my work, Miss," he replied as he followed her into the
house.

The farmer was seated near the fire. He did not even turn round when
Jacques entered. The latter went straight up to his employer and
said: "You wanted me to come and speak to you."

Adele tried to look composed, but her nerves were unsteady. She
could not bear to leave the room, while the men were talking about
her. No, she must hear her doom; at any rate, she must be there to
try and defend herself.

"Yes," said the farmer after a while, "what was it about now? oh!
this evening----."

"Yesterday evening;" thought Adele, "he is making a mistake."

"This evening," the farmer went on, "you will carry my boots to the
shoemaker's."

"All right, Sir," answered Jacques.

The young lady could not res