The pass was willingly given up to Madame de Fleury; and upon reading it over it was found to answer tolerably well--the colour of the eyes and hair at least would do; though the words _un nez gros_ were not precisely descriptive of this lady's.

Annette's mother, who had always worn the provincial dress of Auvergne, furnished the high _cornette_, stiff stays, bodice, &c.; and equipped in these, Madame de Fleury was so admirably well disguised, that even Victoire declared she should scarcely have known her.

Money, that most necessary passport in all countries, was still wanting: as seals had been put upon all Madame de Fleury's effects the day she had been first imprisoned in her own house, she could not save even her jewels.

She had, however, one ring on her finger of some value.

How to dispose of it without exciting suspicion was the difficulty.