"I hope that's a history. Unfortunately, one hears only too many similar stories. Ours are really cut-throat streets, and it is not well, after nine o'clock, to be out in them. The gentlemen of the parliament make decrees often enough, but it doesn't do much good. A little while ago, it seems a counsellor of the Chamber of Investigation was similarly murdered. The parliament has just promulgated a new ordinance against these worthless fellows--haven't they, monsieur?" "Yes," said Urbain; "the public prosecutor has just complained of murders, assassinations and robberies, which take place every day, as many upon the highways as in the city or the suburbs, by armed persons who forcibly break into houses, and that through the negligence of the police officers who do not properly perform their duty. Parliament yesterday passed a new decree, ordering that vagabonds, men of bad character, and robbers, should vacate the city and the faubourgs of Paris within twenty-four hours." "Well, you'll see, tonight we shall hear a bigger rumpus than ever." "And the barber Touquet is not married?" resumed Urbain, who wished to return to the subject of conversation which was interesting to him. "No, he's a bachelor," said Madame Ledoux. "And this young girl that lodges with him--" "She's the little one whom he adopted." "She had no other protectors?" "What could you expect, since nobody knew her parents? Touquet has, they say, taken very good care of her; I will do him the justice to say that. He has taken into his house, to wait on the little one, a servant, old Marguerite, a gossip, who is always seeking for preservatives against the wind, the thunder, the sorcerers, or even for talismans to guard her dear Blanche against the snares of the gallants." "Blanche, then, is the name of the young girl?" "Yes; that is her name." "And this old woman is the only one about her?" "Mercy! isn't that enough? Besides, the little one never goes out, and no one ever sees her even put her nose out of the window." "Tell me, ladies, don't you think, with me, that the barber has brought up this pretty child for himself, and that he would not take so much care of her unless he was in love with her?" "Indeed, that might very well be possible. Touquet is still young, and perhaps wishes to marry her." "Nonsense! I don't believe that; and besides, they say that the young person is not good-looking. I have heard it said by an ugly little thin man, with a long sword, who is often at the barber's shop, that the orphan is very ugly." "Ugly!" cried Urbain quickly. "That's a frightful lie!" "Ah, monsieur has seen her, then?" immediately said the gossips, looking at the young man with a mischievous air. The latter felt that he had committed an imprudence; but having nothing more to learn from these dames, he made them a low bow and left the shop, leaving the gossips to talk among themselves. "Well, if he hasn't gone, and he didn't tell us what he wanted with Touquet."