"I come from a small village near Rouen." "Ah! you are a Norman! That is strange, for you haven't the Norman accent. How long have you been in Paris?" "Nearly five months." "Did you come alone?" "Yes, all alone. I said to my parents: 'I want to go to Paris; I will work hard there, and perhaps I may make my fortune--who knows?'" Monsieur de Mardeille scratched his head as he repeated: "Fortune! hum! that's not so easy. Women don't often make their fortunes in Paris, when they have no other means of earning money than their needle. But, when you came to Paris, you probably knew that you would find a friend here, a wealthy protector, who could start you at once on the road to the fortune to which you aspire?" "No, monsieur," Georgette replied coldly; "I did not come to Paris to meet anyone, and I shall find a way myself to reach the end I have in view." Once more the old beau bit his lips and glanced about the room. "It's impossible to tell how to take the girl; she's always on her guard!" he said to himself. "I shall not succeed with her so quickly as I thought. But, it doesn't make much difference, I have plenty of time. I must find her sensitive spot.--Are you fond of the play, mademoiselle?" he asked. "Oh! yes, monsieur, very!" "Do you go often?" "Most rarely, monsieur. In the first place, I have no acquaintances in Paris; and for a young girl to go to the theatre alone is hardly proper." "I have found the weak point in the shield," thought Mardeille; and he rejoined: "Well, my charming neighbor, I will escort you to the theatre, with your permission. We will have a little screened box; it will be very comfortable, like being at home." "I don't know what your little screened boxes are, monsieur; but when I go to the play, I don't go to hide myself; I want to see and be seen." "Ah! you want to be seen! What a coquette!" "It is not from coquetry. But, monsieur, you cannot think that I would go to the play with such an elegant person as you, in the modest costume that I wear." "I presume that you would not go in this jacket and this short skirt, although the costume is divinely becoming to you! On my word, you are bewitching so!" "No, of course, I would not go out in a jacket; but my best costume is very modest: a cotton gown, a little cap, a knitted fichu--that's my attire!" "What! haven't you a bonnet--a tiny bonnet?" "No, monsieur, I haven't." The elderly dandy moved about in his chair, seemed to reflect, and said, at last: "After all, you must be fascinating in a cap. Besides, we can take a cab. Is it settled? I will take you to-night, if you agree." "What, monsieur! do you mean to say that you would take to the theatre a woman in a cotton dress, cap, and a fichu instead of a shawl?" "I do; I am entirely free from prejudices. I would like to take you in the costume you have on, if it were possible." "Well, upon my word! I wouldn't have believed that!" "That proves how dearly I love you, I hope."