"She has paid you, has she not?"
"Oh yes, and has given me money to return home. But it is not that. It is that it hurts me to be suddenly discharged. It is to my injury when I seek another situation. I shall be asked why I left my last. To speak the truth, I must say that I did not leave, that I was discharged. I shall be asked why, and I shall not be able to say."
"Has she not given you a character?"
"Yes; it is not that I complain of; it is being suddenly discharged."
"I cannot interfere, mistress. You have no reasonable cause for complaint. You have a character, and you are well paid; that should content you."
He turned from her, and she sent her parting words after him:
"My lady has her reasons! I hope they will be found to be good ones, and that you will find them so. Do you hear?--that you will find them so!"
He paid no further heed to her, and entering his carriage drove to the Rue de la Corraterie, to the business house of Jacob Hartrich, and was at once admitted to the banker's private room.