The lovers again said good-by, sighing deeply, and Urbain finally followed Marguerite, who shut the street door on him and then went upstairs to Blanche and scolded her for her sadness. But she could not restore her gayety, for the dictates of reason may persuade the mind, but cannot allay the fears of the heart. Not more than a quarter of an hour after Urbain's departure some one rapped loudly at the street door. "That's Urbain, no doubt," said Blanche; "he saw that I was sad and has come back to console me." "That's very improbable," said Marguerite; "it's more likely M. Touquet who has returned. However, I am astonished that he should knock, for I thought he had taken his master key." "Go and see who it is, dear nurse." "Yes, yes, mademoiselle; but if it should not be monsieur? It is late--we are alone in the house, and I don't know if I ought to open to any one." "Do you want me to look out of the window, dear nurse, I shall very soon see if it's Urbain." "Yes, do so; that seems to me more prudent." Blanche had already opened the window, and she looked down into the street; the night was dark, but love renders the sight clear, and the young girl soon saw that it was not Urbain. "Who is there," demanded Marguerite, thrusting out her head. A deep voice answered, "I come from Master Touquet, he has charged me with a commission to his adopted daughter, Mademoiselle Blanche." "How very singular," said Marguerite to Blanche. "What! monsieur, who has hidden you from everybody's sight, sends a stranger to us at this hour?" "But, dear nurse, since he has sent him, it is necessary to open to this gentleman. Perhaps something has happened to my protector." "Is the man alone, my child?" "Yes, dear nurse, I see nobody but him." "Why don't you open the door," cried the man in the street, "my message is urgent." "Wait one moment, somebody will be there.--Remain here, my child." Marguerite went down, holding her lamp in her hand. She was not reassured, but opened the door, and a man wrapped in a large cloak, his head covered with a plumed hat, appeared before her. "You've been very slow, my good woman," said he, smiling, "however, I'll indemnify you for the trouble I have caused you." While saying these words, he slipped several pieces of gold into Marguerite's hand. The old woman did not know if she ought to accept them, but said to herself, "His manners are not those of a robber." The stranger quickly entered the alleyway and the old woman as she looked at him said to herself, "This is not the first time that I have seen that figure, and I remember his voice. Yes, I believe that that's the friend my master was waiting for so late some time ago." Marguerite was not deceived, it was in fact the marquis who had introduced himself into the house, having first sent the barber a letter in which he gave him a rendezvous outside, and ordered him to wait there until ten o'clock in the evening.