id so much,

"But I may be mistaken," he added: "I do not pretend to be
infallible." He was just then completing a brief inventory of all
the papers found in the old desk. There was nothing left but to
examine the drawer which was used for a cash drawer. He found in
it in gold, notes, and small change, seven hundred and eighteen
francs.

Having counted this sum, the commissary offered it to Mme. Favoral,
saying,

"This belongs to you madame."

But instinctively she withdrew her hand.

"Never!" she said.

The commissary went on with a gesture of kindness,--"I understand
your scruples, madame, and yet I must insist. You may believe me
when I tell you that this little sum is fairly and legitimately
yours. You have no personal fortune."

The efforts of the poor woman to keep from bursting into loud sobs
were but too visible.

"I possess nothing in the world, sir," she said in a broken voice.
"My husband alone attended to our business-affairs. He never spoke
to me about them; and I would not have dared to question him. Alone
he disposed of our money. Every Sunday he handed me the amount which
he thought necessary for the expenses of the week, and I rendered him
an account of it. When my children or myself were in need of any
thing, I told him so, and he gave me what he thought proper. This
is Saturday: of what I received last Sunday I have five francs left:
that, is our whole fortune."

Positively the commissary was moved.

"You see, then, madame," he said, "that you cannot hesitate: you must
live."

Maxence stepped forward.

"Am I not here, sir?" he said.

The commissary looked at him keenly, and in a grave tone,

"I believe indeed, sir," he replied, "that you will not suffer your
mother and sister to want for any thing. But resources are not
created in a day. Yours, if I have not been deceived, are more than
limited just now."

And as the young man blushed, and did not answer, he handed the seven
hundred francs to Mlle. Gilberte, saying,

"Take this, mademoiselle: your mother permits it." His work was done.
To place his seals upon M. Favoral's study was the work of a moment.

Beckoning, then, to his agents to withdraw, and being ready to leave
himself,

"Let not the seals cause you any uneasiness, madame," said the
commissary of police to Mme. Favoral. "Before forty-eight hours,
some one will come to remove these papers, and restore to you the
free use of that room."

He went out;