He made a move for his workshop; she pulled him back by the sleeve, made him laugh and give his consent.
"Antoine," she insisted, "we owe our marriage to Monsieur Mouillard; you must at least pay what you owe." I was delighted.

Still, a doubt seized me.
"Sylvestre," I said to Lampron, who already had his hand upon the door-handle, "do you really think she will come ?" "I hope so; but I will not answer for it.

To make certain, some one must send word to her: 'Mademoiselle Jeanne, your portrait is at the Salon.' If you know any one who would not mind taking this message to the Rue de l'Universite--" "I'm afraid I don't." "Come on, then, and trust to luck." "Rue de l'Universite, did you say ?" broke in little Madame Plumet, who certainly took the liveliest interest in my cause.
"Yes; why ?" "Because I have a friend in the neighborhood, and perhaps--" I risked giving her the number and name under the seal of secrecy; and it was a good thing I did so.
In three minutes she had concocted a plan.

It was like this: her friend lived near the hotel in the Rue de l'Universite, a porter's wife of advanced years, and quite safe; by means of her it might be possible to hint to Mademoiselle Jeanne that her portrait, or something like it, was to be seen at the Salon--discreetly, of course, and as if it were the merest piece of news.
What a plucky, clever little woman it is! Surely I was inspired when I did her that service.

I never thought I should be repaid.