Several succeeding days he returned, and addressed himself to Victoire, each time with increasing freedom.

Madame Feuillot, who had the greatest confidence in her, left her entirely to her own discretion.

Victoire begged her friend Annette to do the business of the shop, and stayed at work in the back parlour.

Tracassier was much disappointed by her absence; but as he thought no great ceremony necessary in his proceedings, he made his name known in a haughty manner to Madame de Feuillot, and desired that he might be admitted into the back parlour, as he had something of consequence to say to Mademoiselle Victoire in private.

Our readers will not require to have a detailed account of this _tete-a-tete_; it is sufficient to say that the disappointed and exasperated abbe left the house muttering imprecations.
The next morning a note came to Victoire apparently from Manon: it was directed by her, but the inside was written by an unknown hand, and continued these words:-- "You are a charming, but incomprehensible girl--since you do not like compliments, you shall not be addressed with empty flattery.