The little girl looked up at Léodgard as if to see whether he was, in fact, going to scold her; and seeing nothing on his features to indicate anger, she pressed still closer to him, laughing aloud--an expression of the frank, unalloyed joy which one never experiences so fully as at that age. "This little girl is fascinating!" said the count, after kissing the child on the forehead; "how old is she?" "Nearly two and a half, monsieur." "Her parents must idolize her?" "Oh, yes! her mother loves her dearly, monsieur! And if madame had not been a little indisposed for two or three days, she would have taken mademoiselle out to walk as usual!" "What lovely eyes! they are so soft and intelligent! She is not a naughty girl, I am sure!" "Oh, no! monsieur, she is very good--so everybody loves her. She is a little mischievous sometimes--as at this moment, when she doesn't want me to catch her.--But it's all in play, isn't it, Mademoiselle Blanche?" "Blanche! Blanche!" murmured Léodgard, to whose mind that name recalled his conversation with Jarnonville.--"Ah! so the little girl's name is Blanche?" "Yes, monsieur." "And would it be out of place to ask her mother's name?" "Mon Dieu! no, monsieur; the dear child is the daughter of Madame la Comtesse de Marvejols, who lives yonder--on the other side of the square, beyond the avenue at the left." When he heard his own name, Léodgard gave a sudden start and pushed away the child who was leaning on him; but Blanche instantly returned to her place between his legs and clung with her little hands to his knee-breeches, crying: "No, I want to stay with you! Nurse can't catch Blanche!" The child's voice was so sweet, there was such a winning expression in her lovely eyes, which she fixed upon the count, that he did not feel the courage to spurn her again; a pleasing emotion made his heart beat fast; his sensations were so unfamiliar to him that he could not define them; but that unknown sentiment that found its way to his heart was like a grateful shower falling suddenly upon the parched and arid ground. He gazed silently at the little girl, whose tiny pink hands were resting upon him. But the nurse, fearing that the child annoyed the strange gentleman, seized Blanche by the arm and drew her away, saying: "If you will not come, mademoiselle, I shall go home to your mamma and tell her that her little girl would not come back to her." One could be perfectly sure of being listened to by Blanche as soon as one mentioned her mother; she instantly left the place she had adopted and took her nurse's hand, saying: "We go see mamma." "Bid this gentleman adieu, and ask his pardon for disturbing him." Blanche turned to Léodgard with a lovely smile, and nodded her head, murmuring: "Adieu--pardon." Then the nursemaid took her in her arms and disappeared along one of the leafy avenues.