"Because each year six young girls, with a dowry of ten thousand francs each, are married here." "A dowry of ten thousand francs! And from whom?" "From a worthy man who died five years ago, whose name is as popular and as reverentially blessed in Chaillot as the _Petit manteau bleu_ in Paris." "And who is this worthy man, in whose name these young girls are so generously dowered?" pursued the old mulatto, with a slight tremor in his voice. "He was called Père Richard," returned the man in a deferential tone. "And why does this Père Richard do so much good after his death?" continued the old man, making an effort to conceal his emotion. "Simply because this was his idea, and because his son religiously carries out his last wishes," explained the man. "And everybody can tell you what a noble man M. Louis Richard is. Himself, his wife and child live on three or four thousand francs a year, at the most, although he must have inherited a large fortune from his father to enable him to bestow annually a dowry of ten thousand francs each on six young girls, not counting the expenses of the 'school' and the 'House of Providence.'" "Excuse the curiosity of a stranger; but you speak of a school and--" "Yes; the school is directed by Madame Mariette, M. Louis Richard's wife. The school was founded for the benefit of twenty-five boys and as many girls, who remain there until they have attained the age of twelve, when they begin their apprenticeship. The children are fed, clothed and educated and receive ten sous a day. In this manner, parents are induced to send them to school instead of forcing them to work in shops." "And the school is under the direction of M. Louis Richard's wife?' "Yes; she claims to have suffered cruelly through her own want of education when she was only a poor shop girl, and she is particularly happy in the thought that she may save others the sufferings she endured." "You also spoke of another institution?" "That house was founded for the benefit of twelve poor, crippled women who cannot work. It is under the direction of Madame Lacombe." "Who is Madame Lacombe?" "Madame Richard's godmother, a good, worthy soul, who lost one hand years ago. She is the personification of gentleness and patience. She can truly sympathize with the crippled women under her charge, for she says that her goddaughter and herself often suffered the pangs of hunger before the former's marriage to M. Richard. But here is the wedding procession." The old man turned to the street and saw a gay cortege approaching, led by Louis, with Madame Lacombe on his arm, closely followed by Mariette leading a pretty boy of four years by the hand.