"Why, Ambroisine, he must have much else in his head! Why should he think so often of a poor girl whom he does not know?" "Upon my word! I would like to see him forget you! After he promised to take care of your child--especially now that----" "That what?" "Why, that the time is approaching when you will be a mother.--Oh, no! he will not forget you. He is not like most of the young nobles of the court, I tell you! And as he doesn't come, there must be something to prevent; for he put his hand in mine; that means that he is my friend, that I may rely on him under all circumstances; and he is not the man to break his engagements." Toward the close of that day, a servant in the Marquis de Marvejols's livery appeared at Master Hugonnet's shop, bearing two large letters sealed with the crest of that noble house. Ambroisine, who was with her father at the moment, turned pale and began to tremble when the servant entered, for she instantly recognized the livery. "Master Hugonnet, bath keeper?" said the man, addressing the master of the house. "That is my name, monsieur; what do you wish?" "I am instructed to hand you this letter from my master--Monsieur le Marquis de Marvejols." Hugonnet glanced at the letter that was presented to him; he hesitated about taking it, and said to the valet: "Are you not making a mistake, monsieur; I have not the honor of knowing Monsieur le Marquis de Marvejols, and----" "Yes, father, yes, it is surely for you," interposed Ambroisine; "take it--take it, I say!" "Ah! you are sure that there is no mistake?" "Yes, yes; you will see.--And that other letter, monsieur?" "It is for a certain Demoiselle Bathilde Landry, who lives with you. Will you have the kindness to hand it to her?" "Yes, monsieur, oh, yes! I will take it to her at once." "Then my errand is done." And the valet went away, after bowing very respectfully to the bath keeper and his daughter. "So you know what all this means, do you?" said Hugonnet, looking at his daughter with a surprised expression. "Yes, father; I will explain it to you. But break this seal first, I entreat you, and see what he has written to you." "Break the seal! that would be a pity! It is magnificent--just look!" "But, father, seals are made to be broken. How else do you expect to know what anyone writes to you?--Break it! please break it!" "Oh! how impatient you are!--Well! if I must----" The seal was broken, and the bath keeper unfolded a large sheet of paper, on which he read: "The Marquis de Marvejols requests Master Hugonnet, bath keeper, and his daughter Ambroisine to accompany Bathilde Landry to his house to-morrow. "He will expect them at two o'clock in the afternoon, all other affairs being put aside." "What does this mean?" said Hugonnet, glancing at his daughter.