e all noted.

The property of the house of Troisville lay between Alencon and
Mortagne. Josette knew the various branches of the family. A word
dropped by mademoiselle as they entered Alencon had put Josette on the
scent of the affair; and a discussion having started between them, it
was settled that the expected de Troisville must be between forty
and forty-two years of age, a bachelor, and neither rich nor poor.
Mademoiselle Cormon beheld herself speedily Vicomtesse de Troisville.

"And to think that my uncle told me nothing! thinks of nothing! inquires
nothing! That's my uncle all over. He'd forget his own nose if it wasn't
fastened to his face."

Have you never remarked that, under circumstances such as these,
old maids become, like Richard III., keen-witted, fierce, bold,
promissory,--if one may so use the word,--and, like inebriate clerks, no
longer in awe of anything?

Immediately the town of Alencon, speedily informed from the farther
end of the rue de Saint-Blaise to the gate of Seez of this precipitate
return, accompanied by singular circumstances, was perturbed throughout
its viscera, both public and domestic. Cooks, shopkeepers, street
passengers, told the news from door to door; thence it rose to the upper
regions. Soon the words: "Mademoiselle Cormon has returned!" burst like
a bombshell into all households. At that moment Jacquelin was descending
from his wooden seat (polished by a process unknown to cabinet-makers),
on which he perched in front of the carriole. He opened the great green
gate, round at the top, and closed in sign of mourning; for during
Mademoiselle Cormon's absence the evening assemblies did not take place.
The faithful invited the Abbe de Sponde to their several houses; and
Monsieur de Valois paid his debt by inviting him to dine at the Marquis
d'Esgrignon's. Jacquelin, having opened the gate, called familiarly to
Penelope, whom he had left in the middle of the street. That animal,
accustomed to this proceeding, turned in of herself, and circled round
the courtyard in a manner to avoid injuring the flower-bed. Jacquelin
then took her bridle, and led the carriage to the portico.

"Mariette!" cried Mademoiselle Cormon.

"Mademoiselle!" exclaimed Mariette, who was occupied in closing the
gate.

"Has the gentleman arrived?"

"No, mademoiselle."

"Where's my uncle?"

"He is at church, mademoiselle."

Jacquelin and Josette were by this time on the first step of the
portico, hol