"You are expecting some one, then, Sophie?" asked Antonine, when the servant retired. "Well, good-bye, I will see you again," added the young girl, with a sigh. "I did not come only to bring St. Madeleine's letter, I wanted to have a long chat with you. I will see you again to-morrow, dear Sophie." "Not at all, my little Antonine. I use my authority as mother to keep my dear little girl and have her breakfast with us. It is a sort of family feast. Is it because your place was not ready, my child?" "Come, Mlle. Antonine," said Charles, "do us the kindness to stay." "You are a thousand times too good, M. Dutertre, but, really, I cannot accept." "Then," replied he, "I am going to employ the greatest means of seducing you; in a word, if you will stay, you shall see the generous man who, of his own accord, came to our rescue this day a year ago, for this is the anniversary of that noble action that we are celebrating to-day." Sophie, having forgotten the presentiment awakened in her mind by the words of her little girl, added: "Yes, my little Antonine, at the very moment, the critical moment, when ruin threatened our business, M. Pascal said to Charles: 'Monsieur, I do not know you personally, but I know you are as just as you are laborious and intelligent; you need fifty thousand to put your business in a good condition. I offer it to you as a friend, accept it as a friend; as to interest, we will estimate that afterward, and still as a friend.'" "That was to act nobly, indeed!" said Antonine. "Yes," said Charles Dutertre, with profound emotion, "for it is not only my industry which he has saved, but it was the labour of the numerous workmen I employ, it was the repose of my father's old age, the happiness of my wife, the future of my children. Oh, stay with us, stay, Mlle. Antonine, the sight of such a good man is so rare, so sweet--But wait, there he is!" exclaimed M. Dutertre, as he saw M. Pascal pass the parlour window. "I am much impressed with all Sophie and you have told me, M. Dutertre, and I regret I cannot see this generous man to whom you owe so much, but breakfast would detain me too long. I must return early. My uncle expects me, and he has passed a very painful night; in these attacks of suffering he always wants me near him, and these attacks come at any time." Then, taking Sophie by the hand, the young girl added: "Can I see you again soon?" "To-morrow or day after, my dear little Antonine, I am coming to see you, and we will talk as long as you like." The door opened; M. Pascal entered. Antonine embraced her friend, and Sophie said to the financier, with affectionate cordiality: "Permit me, will you not, M. Pascal, to take leave of mademoiselle. I need not say that I will hasten to return." "No need of ceremony, my dear Madame Dutertre," stammered M. Pascal, in spite of his assurance astonished to see Antonine again, and he followed her with an intense, surly gaze until she had left the room. CHAPTER VII.