And, making an effort, she resumed her narrative, hurrying more and more.
“I returned home, my mind all disturbed by the judge’s warnings. I am no coward; but it is a terrible thing to feel one’s self incessantly threatened by an unknown and mysterious danger, against which nothing can be done.
“In vain did I search my past life: I could think of no one who could have any interest in effecting my ruin. Those alone have enemies who have had friends. I had never had but one friend, the kind-hearted girl who had turned me out of her home in a fit of absurd jealousy. But I knew her well enough to knew that she was incapable of malice, and that she must long since have forgotten the unlucky cause of our rupture.
“Weeks after weeks passed without any new incident. I had plenty of work and was earning enough money to begin saving. So I felt comfortable, laughed at my former fears, and neglected the precautions which I had taken at first; when, one evening, my employer, having a very important and pressing order, sent for me. We did not get through our work until long after midnight.
“She wished me to spend the rest of the night with her; but it would have been necessary to make up a bed for me, and disturb the whole household.
“‘Bash!’ I said, ‘this will not be the first time I cross Paris in the middle of the night.’
“I started; and I was going along, walking as fast as I could, when, from the angle of a dark, narrow street, a man sprang upon me, threw me down, struck me, and would doubtless have killed me, but for two brave gentlemen who heard my screams and rushed to my assistance. The man ran off; and I was able to walk the rest of the way home, having received but a very slight wound.
“But the very next morning I ran to see my friend, the justice of the peace. He listened to me gravely, and, when I had concluded,
“‘How were you dressed?’ he inquired.
“‘All in black,’ I replied, ‘very modestly, like a workwoman.’