"I don't know; the lady sold me the things in the presence of the porter, and so I had no occasion to ask her name, for what she sold belonged to her." "But their new address?" "I don't know that either." "No doubt they know at their old lodging?" "No, sir; for, when I went back to get the things, the porter told me, speaking of the mother and daughter, 'that they were very quiet people, very respectable, and very unfortunate,--I hope no misfortune has happened to them! They appeared to be very calm and composed, but I am sure they were quite in despair.' 'And where are they gone now to lodge?' I asked. '_Ma foi_, I don't know!' was the answer; 'they left without telling me, and I am sure they will not return here.'" The hopes which Rodolph had entertained for a moment vanished; how could he go to work to discover these two unfortunate females, when all the trace he had of them was that the young daughter's name was Claire, and the fragment of a letter, of which we have already made mention, and at the bottom of which were these words: "To write to Madame de Lucenay, for M. de Saint-Remy?" The only, and very remote chance of discovering the traces of these unfortunates was through Madame de Lucenay, who, fortunately, was on intimate terms with Madame d'Harville. "Here, ma'am, be so good as to take your money," said Rodolph to the shopkeeper, handing her a note for five hundred francs. "I will give you the change, sir. What is your address?" "Rue du Temple, No. 17." "Rue du Temple, No. 17; oh, very well, very well, I know it." "Have you ever been to that house?" "Often. First I bought the furniture of a woman there, who lent money on wages; it is not a very creditable business, to be sure, but that's no affair of mine,--she sells, I buy, and so that's settled. Another time, not six weeks ago, I went there again for the furniture of a young man, who lived on the fourth floor, and was moving away." "M. Francois Germain, perhaps?" said Rodolph. "Just so. Did you know him?" "Very well; and, unfortunately, he has not left his present address in the Rue du Temple, so I do not know where to find him. But where shall we find a cart to take the goods?" "As it is not far, a large truck will do, and old Jerome is close by, my regular commissionaire. If you wish to know the address of M. Francois Germain, I can help you." "What? Do you know where he lives?" "Not exactly, but I know where you may be sure to meet with him." "Where?" "At the notary's where he works." "At a notary's?" "Yes, who lives in the Rue du Sentier." "M. Jacques Ferrand?" exclaimed Rodolph. "Yes; and a very worthy man he is. There is a crucifix and some holy boxwood in his study; it looks just as if one was in a sacristy." "But how did you know that M. Germain worked at this notary's?"