d that one of his hands was blackened,
as if burnt by some acid. But never mind, signora, sixty francs,
together with what your father gives me, it's a fortune. The end
of my career will be spared the privations of its beginning. This
young man will help making me known. The morning has been dark;
but the sunset will be glorious."

The young girl could no longer have any doubts: M. de Tregars had
found the means of hearing from her, and letting her hear from him.

The impression she felt contributed no little to give her the
patience to endure the obstinate persecution of her father, who,
twice a day, never failed to repeat to her:

"Get ready to properly receive my protege on Saturday. I have not
invited him to dinner: he will only spend the evening with us."

And he mistook for a disposition to yield the cold tone in which
she answered:

"I beg you to believe that this introduction is wholly unnecessary."

Thus, the famous day having come, he told his usual Saturday guests,
M. and Mme. Desclavettes, M. Chapelain, and old man Desormeaux:

"Eh, eh! I guess you are going to see a future son-in-law!"

At nine o'clock, just as they had passed into the parlor, the sound
of carriage-wheels startled the Rue St. Gilles.

"There he is!" exclaimed the cashier of the Mutual Credit.

And, throwing open a window:

"Come, Gilberte," he added, "come and see his carriage and horses."

She never stirred; but M. Desclavettes and M. Chapelain ran. It was
night, unfortunately; and of the whole equipage nothing was visible
but the two lanterns that shone like stars. Almost at the same time
the parlor-door flew open; and the servant, who had been properly
trained in advance, announced:

"Monsieur Costeclar."

Leaning toward Mme. Favoral, who was seated by her side on the sofa,

"A nice-looking man, isn't he? a really nice-looking man," whispered
Mme. Desclavettes.

And indeed he really thought so himself. Gesture, attitude, smile,
every thing in M. Costeclar, betrayed the satisfaction of self, and
the assurance of a man accustomed to success. His head, which was
very small, had but little hair left; but it was artistically drawn
towards the temples, parted in the middle, and cut short around
the forehead. His leaden complexion, his pale lips, and his dull
eye, did not certainly betray a very rich blood; he had a great long
nose, sharp and curved like a sickle; and his beard, of undecided
color, trimmed in the