He feigned blindness, working as hitherto for the triumph of Legitimacy, and still remaining at the orders of the clergy and nobility, though from the very first day he had penetrated Pierre's new course of action, and believed that Felicite was his accomplice.
One evening, being the first to arrive, he found the old lady alone in the drawing-room.

"Well! little one," he asked, with his smiling familiarity, "are your affairs going on all right?
Why the deuce do you make such mysteries with me ?" "I'm not hiding anything from you," Felicite replied, somewhat perplexed.
"Come, do you think you can deceive an old fox like me, eh?
My dear child, treat me as a friend.

I'm quite ready to help you secretly.

Come now, be frank!" A bright idea struck Felicite.

She had nothing to tell; but perhaps she might find out something if she kept quiet.
"Why do you smile ?" Monsieur de Carnavant resumed.