She learned that one was starting almost at once, and hurriedly taking a second-class ticket she jumped into a ladies' carriage and went as far as Courcelles. There she alighted, went out of the station, looked around her for a minute or two to get her bearings, and then walked slowly towards the rue Eugène-Flachat. She hesitated a second, and then walked firmly towards a particular house, and rang the bell. * * * * * "A lady to see you, sir," the footman said to M. Rambert. "Bring her in here at once," said M. Rambert, supposing that the man had kept the Baronne de Vibray waiting in the anteroom. The drawing-room door was opened a little way, and someone came in and stepped quickly into the shadow by the door. Thérèse, who had risen to hurry towards the visitor, stopped short when she perceived that it was a stranger and not her guardian. Noticing her action, M. Etienne Rambert turned and looked at the person who had entered. It was a lady. "To what am I indebted----" he began with a bow; and then, having approached the visitor, he broke off short. "Good heavens----!" The bell rang a second time, and on this occasion the Baronne de Vibray hurried into the room, a radiant incarnation of gaiety. "I am most dreadfully late!" she exclaimed, and was hurrying towards M. Etienne Rambert with outstretched hands, full of some amusing story she had to tell him, when she too caught sight of the strange lady standing stiffly in the corner of the room, with downcast eyes. Etienne Rambert repressed his first emotion, smiled to the Baronne, and then went towards the mysterious lady. "Madame," he said, not a muscle of his face moving, "may I trouble you to come into my study?" "Who is that lady, M. Rambert?" said Thérèse when presently M. Rambert came back into the drawing-room. "And how white you are!" M. Rambert forced a smile. "I am rather tired, dear. I have had a great deal to do these last few days." The Baronne de Vibray was full of instant apologies. "It is all my fault," she exclaimed. "I am dreadfully sorry to have kept you up so late," and in a few minutes more the Baronne's car was speeding towards the rue Boissy-d'Anglais. * * * * * M. Rambert hurried back to his study, shut and locked the door behind him, and almost sprang towards the unknown lady, his fists clenched, his eyes starting out of his head. "Charles!" he exclaimed. "Papa!" the girl replied, and sank upon a sofa. There was silence. Etienne Rambert seemed utterly dumbfounded. "I won't, I won't remain disguised as a woman any longer. I've done with it. I cannot bear it!" the strange creature murmured. "You must!" said Rambert harshly, imperiously. "I insist!" The pseudo Mlle. Jeanne slowly took off the heavy wig that concealed her real features, and tore away the corsage that compressed her bosom, revealing the strong and muscular frame of a young man.