She accorded full justice to Mlle.

Moriaz; she knew very well that she did not resemble the first chance comer; but that her beauty would work miracles, resurrections; that a hypochondriac, merely from seeing her pass by, was likely to regain his taste for existence, scarcely appeared admissible to her.

So great was her curiosity, that she took the pains to make inquiries; the flowers and the letter had been left by a little peasant, who was not of the place, and who could not be found.

Antoinette examined the hotel-register; she did not see there the handwriting of the letter.

She studied the faces which surrounded her; there was not in Hotel Badrutt a single romantic-looking person.