After looking carefully round, he lowered his voice, and continued, "Mademoiselle Sabine has been left so much to herself that she acts just as she thinks fit." "Do you mean," asked Mascarin, "that the young lady has a lover ?" "Just so." "But that must be wrong; and let me tell you that you ought not to repeat such a story." The man grew quite excited.
"Story," repeated he; "I know what I know.

If I spoke of a lover, it is because I have seen him with my own eyes, not once, but twice." From the manner in which Mascarin received this intelligence, Florestan saw that he was interested in the highest degree.
"I'll tell you all about it," continued he.

"The first time was when she went to mass; it came on to rain suddenly, and Modeste, her maid, begged me to go for an umbrella.

As soon as I came back I went in and saw Mademoiselle Sabine standing by the receptacle for holy water, talking to a young fellow.

Of course I dodged behind a pillar, and kept a watch on the pair--" "But you don't found all your story on this ?" "I think you would, had you seen the way they looked into each other's eyes." "What was he like ?" "Very good looking, about my height, with an aristocratic air." "How about the second time ?" "Ah, that is a longer story.