g to see
Norine at Madame Bourdieu's. He knew that she had given birth to a child
a fortnight previously, and he wished to ascertain the exact state of
affairs, in order to carry to an end the mission with which Beauchene
had intrusted him. As the other, however, had never again spoken to
him on the subject, he simply told him that he was going out in the
afternoon, without indicating the motive of his absence. At the same
time he knew what secret relief Beauchene would experience when he at
last learnt that the whole business was at an end--the child cast adrift
and the mother following her own course.

On reaching the Rue de Miromesnil, Mathieu had to go up to Norine's
room, for though she was to leave the house on the following Thursday,
she still kept her bed. And at the foot of the bedstead, asleep in a
cradle, he was surprised to see the infant, of which, he thought, she
had already rid herself.

"Oh! is it you?" she joyously exclaimed. "I was about to write to you,
for I wanted to see you before going away. My little sister here would
have taken you the letter."

Cecile Moineaud was indeed there, together with the younger girl, Irma.
The mother, unable to absent herself from her household duties, had
sent them to make inquiries, and give Norine three big oranges, which
glistened on the table beside the bed. The little girls had made the
journey on foot, greatly interested by all the sights of the streets and
the displays in the shop-windows. And now they were enraptured with the
fine house in which they found their big sister sojourning, and full of
curiosity with respect to the baby which slept under the cradle's muslin
curtains.

Mathieu made the usual inquiries of Norine, who answered him gayly, but
pouted somewhat at the prospect of having so soon to leave the house,
where she had found herself so comfortable.

"We shan't easily find such soft mattresses and such good food, eh,
Victoire?" she asked. Whereupon Mathieu perceived that another girl was
present, a pale little creature with wavy red hair, tip-tilted nose, and
long mouth, whom he had already seen there on the occasion of a previous
visit. She slept in one of the two other beds which the room contained,
and now sat beside it mending some linen. She was to leave the house on
the morrow, having already sent her child to the Foundling Hospital; and
in the meantime she was mending some things for Rosine, the well-to-do
young person of great beauty