The count remained where he sat, lost in thought; he was tempted more than once to turn his head and look after Blanche, but he resisted the temptation. After some time, he rose abruptly and left Place Royale, saying to himself: "It is after two o'clock; no one will come to-day." The next day, Léodgard went to Place Royale at about the same hour as on the preceding day. Although his mind was full of Valentine, and he was most impatient to see the person whom she was to send to him, when he found himself near the flower beds, where a multitude of children were running about at play, his eyes wandered in all directions, seeking a certain child among them, although he would not admit it to himself. After walking about for a moment, the count took his seat on a bench--the same one on which he had previously sat. He even waited a short time for two people who were sitting there to leave, instead of taking a seat elsewhere. He seated himself in such a way that his back was turned to the Hôtel de Marvejols, but he glanced very often toward the greensward where the children were playing. Suddenly the same sweet voice that had fascinated him the day before rang in his ears, and he saw little Blanche running toward him with outstretched arms, crying: "The gentleman, nurse, the gentleman." Léodgard could not help opening his own arms to receive the child; and when little Blanche reached them, he could not resist the temptation to press her to his heart and kiss her. The nurse soon came up. "Oh! monsieur," she said, "mademoiselle saw you in the distance and recognized you at once; then I could not possibly hold her back! She began to run toward you, crying: 'The gentleman!'--You must have taken her fancy, for she doesn't go to everybody like that!" "Is--is the child's mother with you to-day?" the count asked hesitatingly. "No, monsieur; madame la comtesse is better; but she isn't strong enough to go out yet." Léodgard seemed more at ease, and he kissed once more the child whom he was entitled to call his daughter, but to whom he said simply: "Do you know that you are very pretty?" "Oh, yes!" the child replied, with a smile. "But it isn't enough to be pretty," said the nurse. "Mademoiselle knows that she must be good and obedient too, or else she would be ugly." At that moment a poor, half-clad little boy, whose pinched features denoted privation and suffering, stopped a few feet from the bench and held out his hand to ask alms. Little Blanche, as she glanced at the mendicant, ceased to smile, and with her eyes questioned the nurse, who said: "He is unfortunate; your mother, you know, always helps them and wants you to do the same; she gives us money for that purpose. Here, mademoiselle, would you like to give it to him yourself?" Blanche eagerly took the coin which her nurse handed her, and ran to give it to the little beggar, saying: "Take this--poor boy!"