"Alas! monsieur, the paltry sum they loaned me I have been obliged to spend for--" But Herminie did not finish the sentence. She had just perceived a gentleman standing in the open doorway. It was M. de Maillefort, and he had been an unobserved witness of the painful scene for several minutes. Noting the girl's sudden start, and the surprised glance she was directing towards the door, M. Bouffard turned his head, and, seeing the hunchback, seemed quite as astonished as Herminie. The marquis now advanced, and, bowing respectfully to Herminie, said: "I beg a thousand pardons for thus intruding, mademoiselle, but I found the door open, and as I hope you will do me the honour to grant me a few moments' conversation on a very important matter, I ventured to enter." After these words, which were uttered with as much courtesy as deference, the marquis turned to M. Bouffard and surveyed him from head to foot with such an expression of withering contempt that the ex-grocer became not only embarrassed, but thoroughly intimidated as well, in the presence of this hunchback, who said to him, coldly: "I came, monsieur, to solicit the honour of a few minutes' conversation with this young lady." "Oh--ah! Well, what is that to me?" grunted M. Bouffard, gradually regaining his assurance. The marquis, without paying the slightest attention to M. Bouffard, and addressing Herminie, who was becoming more and more astonished, asked, deferentially: "Will mademoiselle do me the favour to grant me the interview I ask?" "But, monsieur," replied the girl, much embarrassed, "I do not know--I am not sure--" "I must take the liberty of remarking that, as it is absolutely necessary that our conversation should be strictly confidential, it is indispensable that this--this gentleman should leave us, unless there may still be something you wish to say to him. In that case, I will retire." "I have nothing further to say to monsieur," answered Herminie, pleased at the idea of escaping from her present painful position, even for a few moments. "Mademoiselle has nothing more to say to you, monsieur," said the marquis to M. Bouffard, with a meaning gesture. But the ex-grocer, who was now himself again, and who was consequently furious at the thought that he had allowed himself to be awed by the hunchback, exclaimed: "So you fancy a man can be turned out of his own house without paying him his just dues, monsieur, and all because you support this--" "Enough, monsieur, enough!" cried the marquis, hastily interrupting Bouffard. And even as he spoke, he seized the offender by the arm with such violence that the ex-grocer, feeling the long, bony fingers of the hunchback hold him as in a vise, gazed at him with mingled fear and astonishment. But the marquis, still smiling in the most amiable manner, continued with marvellous affability: