alousy. But I knew her well enough to knew that she was
incapable of malice, and that she must long since have forgotten
the unlucky cause of our rupture.

"Weeks after weeks passed without any new incident. I had plenty
of work and was earning enough money to begin saving. So I felt
comfortable, laughed at my former fears, and neglected the
precautions which I had taken at first; when, one evening, my
employer, having a very important and pressing order, sent for me.
We did not get through our work until long after midnight.

"She wished me to spend the rest of the night with her; but it would
have been necessary to make up a bed for me, and disturb the whole
household.

"'Bash!' I said, 'this will not be the first time I cross Paris in
the middle of the night.'

"I started; and I was going along, walking as fast as I could, when,
from the angle of a dark, narrow street, a man sprang upon me,
threw me down, struck me, and would doubtless have killed me, but
for two brave gentlemen who heard my screams and rushed to my
assistance. The man ran off; and I was able to walk the rest of
the way home, having received but a very slight wound.

"But the very next morning I ran to see my friend, the justice of
the peace. He listened to me gravely, and, when I had concluded,

"'How were you dressed?' he inquired.

"'All in black,' I replied, 'very modestly, like a workwoman.'

"'Had you nothing on your person that could tempt a thief?'

"'Nothing. No watch-chain, no jewelry, no ear-rings even.'

"'Then,' he uttered, knitting his brows, 'it is not a fortuitous
crime: it is another attempt on the part of your enemies.'

"Such was also my opinion. And yet:

"'But, sir,' I exclaimed, 'who can have any interest to destroy me,
--a poor obscure girl as I am? I have thought carefully and well,
and I have not a single enemy that I can think of.' And, as I had
full confidence in his kindness, I went on telling him the story
of my life.

"'You are a natural child,' he said as soon as I had done, 'and you
have been basely abandoned. That fact alone would be sufficient to
justify every supposition. You do not know your parents; but it is
quite possible that they may know you, and that they may never have
lost sight of you. Your mother was a working-girl, you think? That
may be. But your father? Do you know what interests your existence
may threaten? Do you know what elaborate edifice of falsehood and
infamy yo