At length she grew tired of her useless attempts to see him.

She knew that all was well over when the count's steward brought her for me a legal settlement of fifteen thousand francs a year.

The son had taken my place, and the mother had ruined me!" Three or four light knocks at the door of the study interrupted Noel.
"Who is there ?" he asked, without stirring.
"Sir," answered the servant from the other side of the door, "madame wishes to speak to you." The advocate appeared to hesitate.
"Go, my son," advised M.Tabaret; "do not be merciless, only bigots have that right." Noel arose with visible reluctance, and passed into Madame Gerdy's sleeping apartment.
"Poor boy!" thought M.Tabaret when left alone.

"What a fatal discovery! and how he must feel it.

Such a noble young man! such a brave heart! In his candid honesty he does not even suspect from whence the blow has fallen.