signal preconcerted.

Helene started. She recognized the cry, and it seemed to her as though
she were again in the Augustine convent at Clissons, with the
chevalier's boat under her windows. She ran to the window; Gaston was
there.

Helene and he exchanged a glance; then, re-entering the room, she rang a
bell, which Madame Desroches had given her, so violently that two
servants and Madame Desroches herself all entered at once.

"Go and open the door," said Helene, imperiously. "There is some one at
the door whom I expect."

"Stop," said Madame Desroches to the valet, who was going to obey; "I
will go myself."

"Useless, madame. I know who it is, and I have already told you that it
is a person whom I expect."

"But mademoiselle ought not to receive this person," replied the duenna,
trying to stand her ground.

"I am no longer at the convent, madame, and I am not yet in prison,"
replied Helene; "and I shall receive whom I please."

"But, at least, I may know who this is?"

"I see no objection. It is the same person whom I received at
Rambouillet."

"M. de Livry?"

"Yes."

"I have positive orders not to allow this young man to see you."

"And _I_ order you to admit him instantly."

"Mademoiselle, you disobey your father," said Madame Desroches, half
angrily, half respectfully.

"My father does not see through your eyes, madame."

"Yet, who is master of your fate?"

"I alone," cried Helene, unwilling to allow any domination.

"Mademoiselle, I swear to you that your father--"

"Will approve, if he be my father."

These words, given with all the pride of an empress, cowed Madame
Desroches, and she had recourse to silence.

"Well," said Helene, "I ordered that the door should be opened; does no
one obey when I command?"

No one stirred; they waited for the orders of Madame Desroches.

Helene smiled scornfully, and made such an imperious gesture that Madame
Desroches moved from the door, and made way for her; Helene then, slowly
and with dignity, descended the staircase herself, followed by Madame
Desroches, who was petrified to find such a will in a young girl just
out of a convent.

"She is a queen," said the waiting-maid to Madame Desroches; "I know I
should have gone to open the door, if she had not done so herself."

"Alas!" said the duenna, "they are all alike in that family."

"Do you know the family, then?" asked the servant, astonished.

Madame Desroches saw that she had said too muc