The footman, resigning to her the parasol at a gesture, immediately led Dick, over gravel walks flanked by lime-trees and foliage, to a side entrance of the handsome house, and thence up-stairs to a chamber, in which another servant soon started a fire. After taking off his clothes to dry them, Dick donned a dressing-gown brought him by the footman. The chamber having been placed entirely at his service, he made use of its toilet articles to restore his best appearance. This done, and his clothes dried, he put them on again, and went out the way he had come, looking around, when he reached the front of the house, for some one to thank. "The weather has changed as to monsieur," came a voice from a clump of shrubs, and the girl stepped into view, attended, as before, by the footman. "It is true, mademoiselle. I no longer weep tears of Seine water. Instead, I smile in my heart with gratitude. May I know to whom my thanks are due? I am--" "No, no, do not say who you are! One is far more interesting who remains unknown, and I am dying to meet an interesting person." "I am sure mademoiselle would remain interesting, even if I knew her name." "No, for as long as you don't know me I shall be just as interesting to you as your imagination can make me. Besides, the luxury of being unknown, at St. Ouen, where everybody knows me, is refreshing. It makes me seem another person." She had led the way farther from the chateau while talking, and now she sat down on a rustic bench, and motioned Alphonse to take away the parasol. Dick saw no reason for an immediate departure, so he stood behind the bench, looking now at the girl, now at the large trees on the terrace. "Do you know, an idea has come to me," said the girl, when Alphonse had taken his station some distance away. The dog now came bursting through some leafless foliage, and stood beside her, receiving her light caresses while the conversation went on. "If ideas are as uncommon in France as they are elsewhere," said Dick, "you will be famous." "I shall doubtless be famous some day, but not through this idea. It is not original. The Abbe Raynal and I used to amuse ourselves by means of it, but I knew all the while that he was the Abbe Raynal, and he knew that I was Germaine--_mon Dieu_, I nearly spoiled all by telling my name!" "Germaine," repeated Dick. "I shall remember that, at least." "I give you permission to remember it, only on condition that you promise not to find out who I am, or whose house this is." "Very well. After all, I like mystery. I promise."