"'Yes,' says I, 'I know who you mean very well,' says I. 'You mean M. Germain, the _bete noire_ of the prison yard.' 'And of you, too, I suppose?' said the officer, in a severe and serious manner. 'Oh, bless you,' says I, 'I am too good-natured, as well as too much of a coward, to venture to call any one disagreeable; and less M. Germain than any one else,' says I, 'for I don't see any harm in him, and other folks appear to me very cruel and unjust towards him.' 'That's all right, then,' answers the officer; 'and I can tell you that you are bound to side with M. Germain, for he has been very kind to you,' he says. 'To me?' says I; 'how do you mean?' 'Well,' he answers, 'I don't mean M. Germain exactly, and it ain't to you altogether he's been kind; but still, for all that,' says Rousel, 'you are bound to show him your gratitude.'" "Try," said Germain, smilingly, "and make me understand what it is you do mean." "That's precisely what I said to the officer. 'Speak more clearly,' I says. So then he makes answer, 'Why, it was not M. Germain, but the very pretty young person that was here just now to see him, who loaded your sister with all sorts of kindnesses. She overheard the poor thing telling you all her troubles; and directly as the creature went out, the charming young woman as come visiting to M. Germain went and offered to serve her in every way she could.'" "Dear, good Rigolette!" murmured Germain, deeply affected by this little incident; "she said not one word to me of all this." "'Well, to be sure!' I says to the officer; 'what a poor stupid goose I am!' 'You are quite right--you are!' M. Germain--leastways, his friend--has been good to me,--that is to say to my sister Jeanne, which is the same thing, only much more than if the favour had been done to myself." "Poor, dear Rigolette!" said Germain; "ever the same tender, compassionate, generous-hearted creature!"