f
Music, for that he possessed great vocal and instrumental talent, and he
cherished the hope of one day seeing him a great composer, like Weber
or Mozart. I expect that this flow of self-praise will melt the heart of
your client, for he will see that his son had made an effort to rise out
of the mire by his own exertions, and will, in this energy, recognize
one of the characteristics of the Champdoce family; and on the strength
of this testimony he will almost be ready to accept the young man as his
son."

Catenac had for some time past been striving to decipher the meaning
hidden behind the inscrutable countenance of Mascarin, but in vain.

"Let us get on," said the lawyer impatiently. "All that you have told me
I shall hear later on in the course of the inquiry."

"If your sagacity requires no further explanation from me," rejoined
Mascarin, "you will, I trust, permit me to continue them for the benefit
of our young friend, Paul Violaine. You will feel compassion when the
Alsatian tells you of his sufferings, at the boys' description of him,
and his subsequent prosperity in the Rue d'Arras. You had better listen
to the old man as long as he continues to grumble on, the more so as you
will detect in the rancor and bitterness of his remarks all the vexation
of a disappointed speculator. He will confess to you besides that he
subsists entirely on the bounty of the lad, whom he had stigmatized as
an ungrateful villain. Of course, the Duke will have to leave behind
him some testimonial of his pleasure, and you will hurry off to the Rue
d'Arras. The proprietor of the house will tell you that some four years
ago he got rid of his musician, the only one of his class who had
dared to establish himself there, and a small present and a few adroit
questions will obtain for you the address of one of the young man's
pupils, Madame Grandorge, a widow lady, residing in the Rue St. Louis.
This lady will tell you that she does not know the address of her former
master, but that he used to live at 57, Rue de la Harpe. From the Rue de
la Harpe you will be sent to the Rue Jacob, and from thence to the Rue
Montmartre, at the corner of the Rue Joquelet."

Mascarin paused, drew a long breath, and chuckled inwardly, as though at
some excellent joke.

"Be comforted, Catenac," said he. "You have nearly reached the end of
your journey. The portress at the house in the Rue Montmartre is the
most obliging woman in the world. She will tell yo