"Madame," said Mademoiselle Lizida, opening the door of the small salon where her mistress was sitting, "there is someone here with a bouquet for you." "A bouquet! somebody has sent me a bouquet?" "Yes, madame." "Well, if it's that Savoyard again, from Monsieur de Roncherolle, I don't propose to receive him; send him away, him and his bouquet; I don't propose to have any further relations with his master. Bah! that man disgusts me!" "Oh! it isn't the messenger this time, madame; it's a very pretty young girl, really very pretty, and the bouquet is magnificent. I am very sure that it comes from someone else." "Do you think so? that makes a difference; show the girl in." Violette was ushered into Madame de Grangeville's presence; the flower girl was agitated, trembling, and her cheeks were a brilliant scarlet; but that emotion simply added to her beauty, and the baroness at sight of her, exclaimed: "Why, the girl is very pretty, really! very pretty, indeed!" Violette made a curtsy and offered her bouquet. "You have brought me a bouquet, mademoiselle?" "Yes, madame." "It is very handsome, very tasteful.--But from whom do you come? for I must know to whom I am indebted for this attention." "I do not know, madame." "You don't know? Ah! you mean that you were told to keep it secret. But, you know, between women such secrets should be transparent. Come, my girl--why, she is really very pretty indeed!--who sends you? For of course you did not come here of your own motion." "Madame, it was a gentleman who came to me at my place, at my booth." "Ah! so you are----" "A flower girl, madame." "And where is your booth? on Rue de la Paix?" "No, madame, on Boulevard Saint-Martin, near the Chateau d'Eau; I sell out of doors." "Poor girl! an open air flower girl! what a pity, with that pretty face!--But to return to our subject: a gentleman came to you and told you to bring this bouquet?" "Yes, madame." "And he gave you no other message for me?" "No, madame--that is to say, he said: 'You will also offer the lady many compliments from me!'" "From him? What sort of looking man was he? Did he walk with difficulty, leaning on a cane?" "No, madame, this gentleman had no cane, and he walked very well." "So much the better! so much the better! you set my mind at rest.--About how old was this stranger?" "Why, he is no longer young, madame; and still he has the appearance and manners of a young man." "Ah! very good; I am on the track; he is a very stylish, well-dressed man, is he not?" "Yes, madame, he was very well-dressed; and his manner was very distinguished." "What is the color of his hair?" "He is light-haired, with a rather red face." "Enough! enough! I know perfectly now who it is." And Madame de Grangeville, leaning toward her maid, who was behind her chair, said in an undertone: "It is he again, I was sure of it; it is Monsieur de Merval.--Well, what are you looking at so attentively, Lizida?"