"You must go so-and-so," he said at length, when we paused.
"Yes," we replied in chorus; "we have just come from there."
"And," he went on, "you will see the statue of General Beliard."
We nudged each other significantly.
"Go down the steps in the rear, and the house facing you—"
"We knew it. We felt it," we cried, triumphantly; and his directions ended there. We neither heeded nor interpreted the expression of expectation that stole over his face. We poured out only a stream of thanks which should have moistened the parched sands of his soul, and then hastened to retrace our steps. We found the statue again. We descended into the narrow, noiseless street, and stood,—an awe-struck group,—before the great square house, upon the door-plate of which we read,—
"pensionnat de demoiselles.
Héger—Parent."
"Now," said Axelle, when we had drawn in with a deep breath, the satisfaction and content which shone out again from our glad eyes, "we will ring the bell."
"You will not think of it," gasped the choir of startled girls.
"To be sure; what have we come for?" was her reply. "We will only ask permission to see the garden, and as the portress will doubtless speak nothing but French, some one of you, fresh from school, must act as mouthpiece." They stared at Axelle, at each other, and at the steps leading into the upper town, as though they meditated flight. "I cannot," and "I cannot," said each one of the shrinking group.