Léodgard followed the little girl's every movement; when she returned to him, he took her in his arms once more and could not resist the longing to kiss her again. At that moment he heard a cry of surprise close at hand, and these words fell on his ear: "O mon Dieu! is it possible? What joy! Monsieur le comte embracing his daughter!" Léodgard instantly raised his eyes and saw Ambroisine, who had halted a few steps from the bench, and was gazing at him, deeply moved. To place the child hurriedly on the ground, to rise and walk rapidly away--all that was a matter of a second for Léodgard. Ambroisine stood as if petrified; even little Blanche seemed surprised at the disappearance of "the gentleman"; and as for the nurse, the words she had heard seemed to daze her, and she did nothing but murmur: "Is it possible? Jésus bon Dieu! What! that gentleman who was kissing our dear little one--can it be?--was monsieur le comte, her father! How is it, then, that when I told him yesterday that mademoiselle belonged to Madame la Comtesse de Marvejols, he didn't say: 'She is my daughter'?" "Yes, he is really her father, he is the Comte de Marvejols!" said Ambroisine, with a sigh. "Oh! I am terribly sorry that I showed myself and let those words escape me. But, no matter! he kissed her--and he knew that she was his daughter.--Ah! I must make haste to tell Bathilde--she will be so happy!--Come, Blanche; come, dear child; let us hurry home to your mamma; we are going to make her very happy!" Ambroisine took Blanche in her arms and returned to the Hôtel de Marvejols, covering with kisses the lovely child, who made no objection and seemed already to share the happiness that she diffused about her. XLV PRESENTIMENTS After walking about for some time in the streets near Place Royale, Léodgard said to himself: "That Ambroisine probably has left the square now; she has taken the child home, to tell Bathilde what she saw; so that I may safely return to the place appointed; for it is not yet two o'clock, and if that girl should go there and not find me, Valentine's pride would be offended, and who can say that all hope would not be lost?" The count returned to the place he had just left; but he advanced more cautiously now, looking all about and scrutinizing everybody who passed. His premonitions proved accurate; Ambroisine, with the child and her nurse, had returned to the Hôtel de Marvejols. The count did not take his place on the same bench, however, and he constantly rose to walk a little and look about him. He had been thus engaged for about half an hour, and his increasing impatience had nearly led him to leave the square, when a girl coming slowly along Rue des Tournelles, who had observed Léodgard's restless movements, approached him and stopped, with every sign of intense agitation.