Gaston took a hasty leave. At the corner of the cemetery of the Innocents he took a carriage, and was driven to the Rue St. Antoine. At the twentieth house he alighted, ordering the driver to follow him; then he proceeded to examine the left side of the street. He soon found himself facing a high wall, over which he saw the tops of some tall poplars; this house, he felt sure, was the one where Helene was. But here his difficulties were but commencing. There was no opening in the wall, neither bell nor knocker at the door; those who came with couriers galloping before them to strike with their silver-headed canes could dispense with a knocker. Gaston was afraid to strike with a stone, for fear of being denied admittance, he therefore ordered the coachman to stop, and going up a narrow lane by one side of the house, he imitated the cry of the screech-owl--a signal preconcerted. Helene started. She recognized the cry, and it seemed to her as though she were again in the Augustine convent at Clissons, with the chevalier's boat under her windows. She ran to the window; Gaston was there. Helene and he exchanged a glance; then, re-entering the room, she rang a bell, which Madame Desroches had given her, so violently that two servants and Madame Desroches herself all entered at once. "Go and open the door," said Helene, imperiously. "There is some one at the door whom I expect." "Stop," said Madame Desroches to the valet, who was going to obey; "I will go myself." "Useless, madame. I know who it is, and I have already told you that it is a person whom I expect." "But mademoiselle ought not to receive this person," replied the duenna, trying to stand her ground. "I am no longer at the convent, madame, and I am not yet in prison," replied Helene; "and I shall receive whom I please." "But, at least, I may know who this is?" "I see no objection. It is the same person whom I received at Rambouillet." "M. de Livry?" "Yes." "I have positive orders not to allow this young man to see you." "And _I_ order you to admit him instantly." "Mademoiselle, you disobey your father," said Madame Desroches, half angrily, half respectfully. "My father does not see through your eyes, madame." "Yet, who is master of your fate?" "I alone," cried Helene, unwilling to allow any domination. "Mademoiselle, I swear to you that your father--" "Will approve, if he be my father." These words, given with all the pride of an empress, cowed Madame Desroches, and she had recourse to silence. "Well," said Helene, "I ordered that the door should be opened; does no one obey when I command?" No one stirred; they waited for the orders of Madame Desroches. Helene smiled scornfully, and made such an imperious gesture that Madame Desroches moved from the door, and made way for her; Helene then, slowly and with dignity, descended the staircase herself, followed by Madame Desroches, who was petrified to find such a will in a young girl just out of a convent.