“In Paris?”
“No; in Versailles.”
“From Versailles; the head of a charitable house!”
“Monseigneur, I accept charity from ladies; that does not so much humiliate a poor woman; and this lady, who had heard of my wants, left a hundred louis on my table when she went away.”
“A hundred louis!” said the cardinal in surprise; then, fearing to offend, he added, “I am not astonished, madame, that they should give you such a sum. You merit, on the contrary, all the solicitude of charitable people, and your name makes it a duty to help you. It is only the title of the Sister of Charity that surprised me, they are not in the habit of giving such donations. Could you describe this lady to me?”
“Not easily, sir.”
“How so, since she came here?”
“Yes, but she probably did not wish to be recognized, for she hid her face as much as possible in her hood, and was besides, enveloped in furs.”
“Well, but you saw something?”
“My impressions were, that she had blue eyes, and a small mouth, though the lips were rather thick.”