recognized Henriette's visitant.

CHAPTER XI

LOUISE BEFORE NOTRE DAME

In the days following her immurement in the dreadful sub-cellar,
Louise became the Frochards' breadwinner. Her pathetic blindness,
lovely face and form, and sweet young voice attracted sympathy from
each passer-by. The offerings all went into the capacious pocket of La
Frochard, whence indeed most of them were stolen or cajoled by her
worthless scamp of a Jacques.

The old hag feared only lest she lose her precious acquisition of the
blind girl. She guarded her ceaselessly, and warded off dangerous
questioners.

It was not easy, however, to avoid the good Doctor from La Force, who
gave them a donative and looked at the girl with deep professional
interest. Despite the beggar's tactics, he insisted on examining the
pupils, then called La Frochard aside.

"Don't encourage her too much," said the old gentlemen kindly, "but
bring her to me. I am quite sure that she can be cured."

Rejoining Louise and smiling her wheedling beggar's smile at the
departing Doctor, the features of Widow Frochard suddenly contorted in
black rage--she shook her fist at the physician directly his back was
turned. Monstrous--to restore sight, and thus make the girl worthless
as object of charity! La Frochard felt she had good reason for her
rage.

"Can the Doctor do anything?" ventured Louise to the hag, timidly.

"No, he said your case is hopeless."

They were standing now near the snowy steps of Notre Dame, awaiting
worshippers whose pity would be stirred by the girl's misfortune.
Half-drunken Jacques had reeled out of a cabaret to exact his
share of the plunder. Mother and first-born cursed heartily the
scissors-grinder Pierre who came limping up, saying he could get no
jobs on account of the bitter cold, wintry day. Kicking the cripple
and twisting Louise's arm were the favorite pastimes of Jacques and
the Widow.

On this occasion the hag snatched the covering from the wretched
girl's shoulders and put it around her own. "You'll shiver better
without that shawl!" she said, brutally setting the scene for the
worshippers' charity.

"Jacques and I," she continued, "are going to get a little drink to
warm our frozen bodies.

"Guard her there, you good-for-nothing Pierre, or I'll break every
bone of your body!" They departed to spend the Doctor's gold-piece.

Pierre tried vainly to comfort the girl. He could but find her a seat
in a pile of snow! He