Mademoiselle entered the wagonette, and stepping up to the coachman, asked him to drive slowly. She did this in such a very insinuating manner that he felt he could do all in the world to oblige her, and accordingly, let his horses drop into a walk. This the animals were not disinclined to do on so hot an evening. "Now," said Penelope, absolutely unsuspicious, and turning her fair face--which owing to her recent happiness, was really becoming quite good-looking--in the direction of her governess. "What have you to say, Mademoiselle?" "This, _mon enfant_. I will tell it to you briefly. You know the story of the _petites_ Hungerfords--the little one called Nellie, that _enfant_ who suffered with a suffering so severe for the loss of her inestimable trinket--the bangle of the purest gold set with a turquoise most exquisite." "Yes, yes," exclaimed Penelope, "I know all about it. The bangle was lost; has it been found?" "Softly--_cherie_--I am coming to that. It was lost, was it not, on the very day of the _grande fete_ at Hazlitt Chase?" "Yes," said Penelope, "I believe Mrs Hungerford thinks she lost it in the railway carriage in which she came to the Chase." "_Precisement_: you have the _histoire_ in all its accuracy," answered Mademoiselle. "And there was, _mon enfant_, was there not, an announcement of the loss in the newspapers, the so great newspapers of London, and the _petits journaux_ of the smaller towns? And was there not that announcement with the reward attached even inserted, for the sake of the more safety, in the _journal_ here--the _petit journal_ of Marshlands-on-the-Sea?" "I daresay you are right," said Penelope, "but I really am not specially interested, nor have I followed what the Hungerfords have done." "Ah! _ma chere_--you say you are not interested once. But that will pass. That state of your mind will quickly arrive when you will be interested; for there is much to concern you in this matter. Behold, _mon enfant_, what I, your French governess, have discovered." Mademoiselle thrust her hand into her pocket, took out a soft, cambric handkerchief, unfolded it, and revealed the missing bangle. "See!" she exclaimed. "Behold for yourself--I would convince myself, by visiting you at the beautiful Castle yesterday, and I remarked the bangle on the leetle Pauline's slender wrist. I took a note of the fine engraving, and the pattern of it. Is not this _precisement_ the same! See for yourself," she added. "Why, it is--it must be!" exclaimed Penelope. "So it is found out; did you discover it? How delighted Nellie will be! Are you coming up to the Castle to give it back to her to-night and to claim the reward? I know it will be given to you at once. Poor, dear little Nellie--she will be pleased!" "Ah--_ma chere_!" said the French governess, "I act not so--I have not the heart so cruel!" "But what do you mean?" asked Penelope, in great astonishment.