Monsieur Vermoncey started back in surprise; his eyes assumed an expression of hopeless melancholy when he saw Sans-Cravate, but he motioned to him to come forward. "Your sister has reflected on my offer, no doubt," he said. "I am still prepared to abide by it, for I should be very glad to repair my son's wrong-doing." "Let us say nothing about that, monsieur," replied Sans-Cravate; "if your son did wrong, heaven has attended to the expiation, and that--event made me as wretched as it did you. But I have come to-day to make you happy, and it is the least I can do after causing you so much sorrow." Monsieur Vermoncey stared at the messenger in amazement, but Sans-Cravate went on: "Monsieur, chance made me acquainted with the whole story of a misstep of your younger days, for which that Madame Baldimer was so bent on punishing you. Well! the child you had at that time by a poor girl named Marie Delbart, that--abandoned child I have found, and I have brought him back to you!" "Is it possible?" faltered Monsieur Vermoncey, rising and going to Sans-Cravate's side. "Oh! monsieur, is this true? are you quite sure of what you say?" "Sacrebleu! yes, I am sure of my facts, sure of what I say!" "You are aware of his existence--where is he?" "Oh! he ain't far away!" And Sans-Cravate opened the door behind him, took Paul by the hand, and pushed him into his father's arms. "I robbed you of one son," he said, "but I give you back another. That goes a little way toward reconciling me to myself." Monsieur Vermoncey strained Paul to his heart, then gazed affectionately into his face, crying: "I am not mistaken--it is the same young man who aroused such a deep interest in my heart. Yes, yes, he is my son, my heart divined it long ago; and the more I look at him, the more clearly I recognize the unhappy Marie's features in his." "Yes, but we want you to be certain of the fact," said Sans-Cravate. "Here is Madame Desroches, the widow of the excellent man who took Paul away from--where he was; she will tell you what paper he had about him when they--and then you will see the cross on his left arm. You'll find that it's all just as that beautiful lady--who is so vindictive--told you the other day; and you'll find out, too, that you not only have recovered your son, but that he's the finest fellow on earth; and if they gave the cross to everyone that deserves it, it would have been shining on his breast long ago." Monsieur Vermoncey needed no further proofs to convince him that Paul was his son; however, he listened with profound interest to good Madame Desroches, who did not fail to tell of the young messenger's noble conduct toward herself. When the old lady had finished, Monsieur Vermoncey took his son's hand and gazed proudly at him. But in a moment he said, in a faltering tone: