"No, monsieur le marquis, but after that I learned that it was a great nobleman, a rich and powerful man--Ah, my only hope of discovering this monster lies in you, for you perhaps know the place where he lives. Monseigneur, have pity on my torture, help me to recover her whom they have stolen from me, help me to recover Blanche, and the unfortunate Urbain will owe you more than life." At the name of Blanche the marquis rose abruptly. Urbain threw himself at his feet, seized one of his hands and looked imploringly at him; but Villebelle turned his head that the young man might not see the change which had come over his face. "Get up, get up," said the marquis, seeking to master his emotion; "I wish to serve you, yes, but I cannot promise to restore to you the one whom you have loved." "Among the noblemen of the court, there are men who glory in betraying innocence and snatching a young girl from her relations; seigneur, if you have the least suspicion--sometimes the slightest indication will put one on the track." The marquis appeared to reflect deeply; Urbain, who believed that he sought to recall some circumstance which had interested him, waited with most lively anxiety for him to speak. After a long silence Villebelle said,-- "You are very young, Urbain." "I am nineteen years old, seigneur." "This--Blanche is, no doubt, the first woman whom you have loved?" "Yes, seigneur, and she will be the last." "You are mistaken, my friend; at your age one loves ardently, but it is a flame which quickly evaporates. It is only to one like me that--bereft of the illusions of youth and wearied with change--a true love is a need of the heart and should be an insurmountable feeling. Like you, at nineteen years of age, I believed that I should love for life; I deceived myself. Believe me, you will still be happy." "Without Blanche? That is impossible." "You have some little fortune?" "I have a little country house which my father left me, and twelve hundred livres income." "With so little, distraction is not easy. I wish that you could taste some of the pleasures of your age, and in their vortex you would soon forget your first love." "I thank you, seigneur, but I cannot accept your benefits. I repeat to you, I can never taste pleasure separated from her I love." "Well, what I have offered you would facilitate your researches. Do not refuse me, it is only on that condition that I promise you to second your efforts. Wait for me here, do not leave this room." So saying, the marquis went into the room where Touquet was waiting. "Urbain is there," said he, "the young stranger who asked to see me is Blanche's lover." "I know it, seigneur, I recognized his voice and I listened." "He comes to beg my help in discovering the abductor of her he loves." "He could not better address himself." "I almost felt ready to give him his sweetheart." "What folly!"