"Whether you like me or not, mademoiselle, isn't the question just at this moment. One word, if you please: have you seen him, do you know where he is, what's become of him?" "Of whom?" "Morbleu! my lieutenant, Monsieur Auguste." "On my word! do I know where he is? What a question! when he's been living in my room a fortnight!" "He's in your room?--I have found him! I shall see him again!" In his joy, Bertrand embraced Virginie and once more knocked the hapless chicken to the ground. This time it fell into the gutter and Virginie was ready to weep. "Won't you please let me alone!" she cried; "this chicken's for Auguste; and after I've had so much trouble to get it, you'll be the cause of his not being able to eat it!" "Oh! don't cry! I'll buy you more chickens--ten--twenty--an ox, if you choose! But, for the love of God, take me to my lieutenant straight away. I am in haste to embrace him!" "What! then you still care for him?" "Care for him! Who can ever have doubted my attachment, my devotion to his person?" "Then you didn't abandon him in England on purpose?" "Abandon him! when it was in his service--for his welfare----" "Oh! dear old Bertrand! I was perfectly sure he was a good fellow. Come, my little Bertrand, let's go to Auguste. My! but he'll be glad when he knows that you are still worthy of his affection!" Virginie and Bertrand walked toward Rue de Berry. On the way, Virginie told the old servant of all the disasters that had befallen Auguste, and of the serious illness that he had had. As he listened to these details, Bertrand wiped his eyes now and then and exclaimed: "Sacrebleu! why didn't I find him sooner? But I only returned to Paris the day before yesterday; and I intended to go to Montfermeil to-morrow to look for him, hoping to be luckier there than in this city, where Schtrack and I have been scouring every quarter for two days, without success." At last they reached the house in which Virginie lived; as they went upstairs Bertrand was as excited as if he were going to see a long lost son; and Virginie said to him: "You mustn't show yourself to Auguste right away; he is still very weak, and the sight of you might cause him too much emotion. You understand, don't you, Bertrand?" "Yes, mademoiselle." "I'll go in first, and prepare Auguste gently; then I'll motion to you." "Yes, mademoiselle, I'll wait in another room." "No; as I have but one, you must wait on the landing. I'll leave the door ajar." "All right; but don't wait long before you give me the signal, for I am crazy to have my arms around him." They arrived at Virginie's door; she opened it, then partly closed it, and Bertrand stood as close as possible, hardly daring to breathe. Auguste had risen and was sitting at a window, impatiently awaiting Virginie, whose long absence made him anxious.