inspectress, Madame Armand, to take charge of the sum collected, and to
buy the necessary articles for Mont Saint-Jean's confinement; and
then,--who knows?--perhaps Madame Armand may take notice of the good
action you have performed, and report it, so as to be the means of
shortening the imprisonment of all whose names are mentioned as being
concerned in it. Tell me, La Louve," added Fleur-de-Marie, taking her
companion by the arm, "are you not better satisfied with yourself than
you were just now, when you were throwing about all Mont Saint-Jean's
poor baby's things?"

La Louve did not immediately reply. To the generous excitement which a
few moments before animated her features, succeeded a sort of half
savage air of defiance. Unable to comprehend the cause of this sudden
change, Fleur-de-Marie looked at her with surprise.

"Come here, La Goualeuse," said La Louve at last, with a gloomy tone; "I
want to speak to you."

Then abruptly quitting the other prisoners, she led Fleur-de-Marie to a
reservoir of water, surrounded by a stone coping, which had been
hollowed out in the midst of an adjoining meadow. Near the water was a
bench, also of stone, on which La Louve and La Goualeuse placed
themselves, and were thus, in a manner, beyond the observation or
hearing of their companions.

CHAPTER XI.

LA LOUVE AND LA GOUALEUSE.

We firmly believe in the influence of certain master minds so far
sympathising with the masses, so powerful over them as to impose on them
the bias of good or evil. Some, bold, enthusiastic, indomitable,
addressing themselves to the worst passions, will rouse them, as the
storm raises the foam of the sea; but, like all tempests, these are as
ephemeral as they are furious; to these terrible effervescences will
succeed the sullen reversion of sadness and restlessness, which will
obtain supremacy over the most miserable conditions. The reaction of
violence is always severe; the waking after an excess is always painful.

La Louve, if you will, personifies this fatal influence.

Other organisations, more rare, because their generous instincts must be
fertilised by intelligence, and with them the mind is on an equality
with the heart,--others, we say, will inspire good, as well as some
inspire evil. Their wholesome influence will gently penetrate into the
soul, as the warm rays of the sun penetrate the body with invigorating
heat, as the arid and burning earth imbibes the fresh and grateful