Meanwhile, the patroon’s ill-treatment of me continued. Yet it had its good side, as I can see now. I had already gained Miriam’s attention in the recital of my adventure at the tannery. She did not share her father’s prejudices against me. The patroon had said nothing openly, except to Louis, about his suspicions of my identity with Le Bourse. In Miriam’s presence, he had been especially careful to express himself in a way different from what he really felt. Doubtless he thought she would repeat his compliments to me, thus throwing me quite off my guard. In this way, without suspecting it, he pleaded my cause to Miriam long before it had taken shape in my own mind. Her sympathies were already enlisted in my behalf when I told her of my narrow escape. Her father’s present treatment of me was so at variance with what he had formerly said to her, that she was utterly at a loss to understand it. “It must be a mere whim,” she would say; or, “He is ill. He does not feel so, let me tell you.” Then she would repeat, just as the patroon had expected, what he had said to her. Thus, I and my affairs were constantly in her mind, as if it was her duty to settle them and restore peace. “It will wear off,” she said soothingly, just after he had brought me up sharp with an insulting answer. “He has not been well lately. I know he does not mean it. Come, take a walk with me.” So, twenty times a day, she would speak to me kindly and do some little act to soothe a reproach from him. At last she went to him direct to appeal for me. She has told me many a time since how she talked him out of a sullen humor. He told her flatly that he thought I was Le Bourse. Dear girl! She vouched for my honesty, and defended me so stoutly that he gave in at last. “It is fate, Miriam,” he said. “It is fate. Let us cast lots. Cry as I toss. Crown or shield?” He took a coin from his pocket and spun it on the table. “Crown!” cried Miriam. “It is so,” said the patroon as the coin flattened down with a jarring ring. “Fate says that I shall trust him. Call the man in.” From that moment I stood in the better graces of the master. There were times, to be sure, when I thought that he still shared his old suspicions. But for the most part he seemed to trust me. After all, the silver buttons were a good introduction. I had to thank them for much.