"As those believe, also, who ordered you to be drowned, poor dear! Oh, the hounds!" "You always suppose, then, that it was not an accident, La Louve?" "An accident? Yes, the Martials call them _accidents_. When I say the Martials, it is without counting my man for he is not of that family, no more than François and Amandine shall be." "But what interest could any one have in my death! I have never harmed any one--no one knows me." "It's all one, if the Martials are scoundrels enough to drown some one, they are not fools enough to do it for nothing. Some words which the widow made use of in prison, to my Martial, proves this." "He has been to see his mother, then? this terrible woman!" "Yes, and there is no more hope for her, nor for Calabash, nor for Nicholas. Many things have been discovered, but Nicholas, in the hope of saving his life, has denounced his mother and sister for another assassination. On this account they will all be executed; the lawyers have no hope, the judges say that an example is necessary." "Ah! it is frightful--almost a whole family!" "Yes, unless Nicholas makes his escape; he is in the same prison with a monster called Skeleton, who has a plot on foot to escape. Nicholas told this to a prisoner who was discharged, and he informed Martial; for my Martial has been weak enough to go and see his rascally brother at La Force. Then, encouraged by this visit, this wretch has had the impudence to send word to his brother that any moment he may escape, and that Martial should hold himself ready, at Micou's, with money, and clothes for a disguise." "Your Martial has so kind a heart!" "Kind heart as much as you please, La Goualeuse, but hang me if I let my husband aid an assassin who wished to kill him! Martial will not denounce the plot--that is already a great deal. Besides, now that you are nearly well, La Goualeuse, we are going to start with the children on our tour through France; we will never plant our feet in Paris again; it was painful enough for Martial to be called son of the guillotined--what will it be when mother, brother, and sister are also executed!" "You will wait, at least, until I have spoken to M. Rudolph concerning you, if I see him again. You have become changed; I told you that I would reward you, and I wish to keep my word; otherwise how can I pay the debt I owe you? You have saved my life; and during my illness you overwhelmed me with attentions." "Exactly; now I should seem self-interested if I allowed you to ask anything for me from your protector. You are saved; I repeat to you that I have made my expenses." "Good Louve, reassure yourself; it is not you who are self-interested, it is I who am grateful." "Listen, then!" said La Louve, suddenly rising; "it sounds like the noise of a carriage. Yes, yes, it approaches; hold! there it is; did you see it pass before the gate? there is a lady within." "Oh! goodness!" cried Fleur-de-Marie, with emotion; "I thought I recognized--" "Whom?"