'I told him,' answered the corporal, 'that madame my wife, living nearly opposite his house, had watched anxiously from the window the destruction of his property----' 'Passionately desiring to render him assistance, but incapacitated by her sex. Did you tell him that?' 'N-n-ot exactly.' 'Why not?' 'Because I did not think it strictly true.' 'Fie! sacrifice your wife to your conscience. Oh, I wish Bruder Klaus had picked a pocket, or stolen a mother-of-pearl box!' 'I told him that you had preserved from destruction the casket which I had the honour of returning to him. He was profuse in his thanks, and he even offered me a turquoise ring for you.' 'Where is it?' asked madame, leaping from the chair; 'show it me instantly.' 'I refused it.' 'Refused it!' echoed the little woman. Then, throwing up her hands, she cried, 'Mon Dieu! what a thing it is to be married to the Ten Commandments!' 'The Sieur Réveillon has promised to call on you and thank you in person for having saved so valuable a portion of his property.' 'Then I shall get the ring, you shall see!' 'And in the meantime he proposes to render me a service.' 'What?' 'He asked me if there was anything he could do for me. I then mentioned to him that Gabrielle, who had been servant to Madame Berthier, now in the Bastille, was desirous of seeing her mistress again, and I requested him to use his influence with the governor to obtain her admission to the prisoner. He replied that leave could be obtained without difficulty, as the lady in question was not a political offender, but was confined on account of her derangement. It is the custom at the Bastille for those who are incarcerated to have their names changed, to facilitate their being forgotten. Thus Madame Berthier's name has been changed to Plomb. M. Réveillon went at once to the governor and procured the order for admission, and here it is.' Gabrielle caught his hand and kissed it gratefully. 'I am ready to take you to the Bastille at once, if you are willing,' said the corporal. 'Admission is only granted within certain hours.' Gabrielle, without another word, made ready. She took her basket with the cat in it, which Madeleine had amused herself with re-dying saffron, so that the cat was now brilliantly yellow, and taking the corporal's arm, issued with him into the street. Madame Deschwanden was in raptures at the idea of hearing from the girl, on her return, an account of her visit. Her husband, on leaving the door, beat his forehead with his palm, and said: 'I was a fool to mention the turquoise ring to her. I have not heard the last of it yet. Whenever she has her tantrums, that ring will be brought up. Alas! would that I had more discretion, I should not have mentioned the ring. I was not in conscience bound to do so.'