"Will you allow me, sir, to ask you one favour? It is this: the young female who is following us occupies an apartment close to mine, which, I have no doubt, she would place at your disposal. You could, in the first instance, send for Louise, and, if necessary, for Morel afterwards, that his daughter may take leave of him. You will thus save a poor sick and infirm mother from a very distressing scene." "Most willingly, sir, if it can be so arranged." The conversation we have just described was carried on in an undertone, whilst Rigolette and Madame Pipelet kept away discreetly a few steps' distance from the commissary and Rodolph. The latter then went to the grisette, whom the presence of the commissary had greatly affrighted, and said to her: "My good little neighbour, I want another service from you,--I want you to leave your room at my disposal for the next hour." "As long as you please, M. Rodolph. You have the key. But, oh, say what is the matter?" "I will tell you all by and by. But I want something more; you must return to the Temple, and tell them not to bring our purchases here for the next hour." "To be sure I will, M. Rodolph; but has any fresh misfortune befallen the Morels?" "Alas! yes, something very sad indeed, which you will learn but too soon." "Well, then, neighbour, I will run to the Temple. Alas, alas! I was thinking that, thanks to your kindness, these poor people had been quite relieved from their trouble!" said the grisette, who then descended the staircase very quickly. Rodolph had been very desirous of sparing Rigolette the distressing scene of Louise Morel's arrest. "Mon commissaire," said Madame Pipelet, "since my king of lodgers will direct you, I may return to my Alfred. I am uneasy about him, for when I left him he had hardly recovered from his indisposition which Cabrion had caused." "Go, go," said the magistrate, who was thus left alone with Rodolph. They both ascended to the landing-place on the fourth story, at the door of the chamber in which the lapidary and his family had been temporarily established. Suddenly the door opened. Louise, pale and in tears, came out quickly. "Adieu, adieu, father!" she exclaimed. "I will come back again, but I must go now." "Louise, my child, listen to me a moment," said Morel, following his daughter, and endeavouring to detain her. At the sight of Rodolph and the magistrate, Louise and the lapidary remained motionless.