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that the young girl had left of her own free will, in order to return to France, and the only thing which they had had to find fault in her during her long period of service was a little French coquettishness. "This prudish English phrase even made me smile, and I immediately engaged this maid. "She came to me the same day. Her name was Rose. "At the end of a month I would have been helpless without her. She was a treasure, a pearl, a phenomenon. "She could dress my hair with infinite taste; she could trim a hat better than most milliners, and she could even make my dresses. "I was astonished at her accomplishments. I had never before been waited on in such a manner. "She dressed me rapidly and with a surprisingly light touch. I never felt her fingers on my skin, and nothing is so disagreeable to me as contact with a servant's hand. I soon became excessively lazy; it was so pleasant to be dressed from head to foot, and from lingerie to gloves, by this tall, timid girl, always blushing a little, and never saying a word. After my bath she would rub and massage me while I dozed a little on my couch; I almost considered her more of a friend than a servant. "One morning the janitor asked, mysteriously, to speak to me. I was surprised, and told him to come in. He was a good, faithful man, an old soldier, one of my husband's former orderlies. "He seemed to be embarrassed by what he had to say to me. At last he managed to mumble: "'Madame, the superintendent of police is downstairs.' "I asked quickly: "'What does he wish?' "'He wishes to search the house.' "Of course the police are useful, but I hate them. I do not think that it is a noble profession. I answered, angered and hurt: "'Why this search? For what reason? He shall not come in.' "The janitor continued: "'He says that there is a criminal hidden in the house.' "This time I was frightened and I told him to bring the inspector to me, so that I might get some explanation. He was a man with good manners and decorated with the Legion of Honor. He begged my pardon for disturbing me, and then informed me that I had, among my domestics, a convict. "I was shocked; and I answered that I could guarantee every servant in the house, and I began to enumerate them. "'The janitor, Pierre Courtin, an old soldier.' "'It's not he.' "'A stable-boy, son of farmers whom I know, and a groom whom you have just seen.' "'It's not he.' "'Then,
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