"Miretta!" faltered Léodgard, to whose mind the young lady's-maid's name seemed to recall a painful memory; and a sudden change took place in his expression. "Yes, seigneur, my name is Miretta," replied the pretty brunette, who had observed the magical effect which her name produced on the count, and wished to know the cause of it. "Does my name remind you of anyone whom you have known?" "No--no--no one," stammered Léodgard, who, as he strove to recover his self-possession, scrutinized the girl with peculiar attention. "Have you been long in the Marquise de Santoval's service?" "I entered Mademoiselle de Mongarcin's service on my arrival in Paris, more than three years ago. I had a letter of recommendation for mademoiselle." "Ah! and you came----" "I came from Italy; I was reared in the outskirts of Milan." Léodgard's features contracted still more, but in an instant he rejoined hurriedly: "This evening at nine o'clock; I will be prompt. Assure your mistress of the zeal with which I shall fly to her." As he spoke, Léodgard slipped a purse into Miretta's hand, then walked away before she had time to realize his action. The girl gazed with a feeling of repugnance at the purse the count had put in her hand, and said to herself: "Why does he give me this money? Does he think, I wonder, that I need it to induce me to obey my mistress, to serve her faithfully? From her I may properly accept the wages that I earn, but I wish for nothing from others. I do not know why this young nobleman arouses a sort of secret antipathy in my heart. I cannot understand what took place within me when my eyes first beheld him;--all my blood rushed back to my heart. And yet, I do not know the man. How is it that his expression changed when I told him my name?--Oh! I detected his emotion! He shuddered; one would have said that I frightened him! It is certain that it was not the first time that he had heard the name Miretta. Perhaps it reminded him of some other poor girl whom he seduced and then deserted!--But this purse weighs upon me; I do not propose to keep it; it seems to me that it burns me.--Ah! I know what I can do with it." A little beggar was passing through the square; Miretta ran to him and thrust into the little fellow's hand the purse filled with glistening gold pieces. "This is for you," she said; then she hurried away and disappeared, leaving the boy utterly dumfounded by the fortune that had come to him; but it was the same child to whom Blanche had given alms a few moments before, and the alms of an angel should bring him good luck. Miretta returned at once to the Hôtel de Santoval, and went straight to her mistress; having assured herself that no one could hear them, she said: "Your errand is done, madame." "You have seen the count?" "Yes, madame; he was waiting on Place Royale. He will be here this evening, at nine o'clock." "You told him what direction he must take to reach your room?" "Yes, madame.--Oh! he will not go astray."