correspondent of every rogue and felon either in prison or out of it) a
lengthened detail of every particular relative to the child formerly
confided to the woman Gervais, otherwise the Chouette.

"From this account, and the declarations of the Chouette, it appeared
that one Madame Seraphin, housekeeper to a notary named Jacques Ferrand,
had in 1827 instructed Tournemine to find a person who, for the sum of
one thousand francs, would be willing to take the entire charge of a
child of from five to six years of age whom it was desired to get rid
of, as has before been mentioned.

"The Chouette accepted the proposition, and received both the child and
the stipulated sum of money.

"The aim of Tournemine, in addressing these particulars to Bras Rouge,
was to enable the latter to extort money from Madame Seraphin, whom
Tournemine considered but as the agent of a third party, under a threat
of revealing the whole affair unless well paid for silence.

"Bras Rouge entrusted the Chouette, long the established partner in all
the Schoolmaster's schemes of villainy; and this explains how so
important a document found its way to that monster's possession, and
also accounts for the expression used by the Chouette at her rencontre
with the Goualeuse in the cabaret of the White Rabbit, when, by way of
tormenting her victim, she said, 'We have found out all about your
parents, but you shall never know who or what they are.'

"The point to be decided was as to the veracity of the circumstances
detailed by Tournemine in his letter to the Chouette.

"It has been ascertained that Madame Seraphin and the notary, Jacques
Ferrand, are both living; the address of the latter is Rue du Sentier,
No. 41, where he passes for a person of pious and austere life; at
least, he is constant in his attendance at church,--his attention to his
professional duties, close and severe, though some accuse him of
following up the severity of the law with unnecessary rigour. In his
mode of living he observes a parsimony bordering on avarice. Madame
Seraphin still resides with him, as manager of his household; and M.
Jacques Ferrand, spite of his original poverty, has invested thirty-five
thousand francs in the funds, the greatest part of this sum having been
supplied to him through a M. Charles Robert, a superior officer of the
National Guard,--a young and handsome man, in high repute with a certain
class of society. 'Tis true that some ill-natured persons ar