And the girl bent over Madame Lacombe to embrace her, but the invalid, pushing her away, said, angrily:
"Can't you see that he is only amusing himself at our expense? Marry you? Pension me for life? Was such a thing ever heard of? He wants to get around me, that is all, and if he is rich, as he says he is, he will only fool you, and some fine day you'll hear of his marriage with another girl, so I forbid him ever to set foot in this house again."
"But you will at least allow me to present myself here in company with my father to make a formal request for Mariette's hand in marriage?"
"Oh, yes, when you come for that purpose it will be when two Sundays come together," answered the old woman, sneeringly.
"It will be to-morrow, Madame Lacombe."
Then, turning to the young girl, he added:
"Farewell, Mariette. I shall come to-morrow, accompanied by my father."
On hastening to his father's office a few moments afterward, Louis found it closed, and ascertained upon inquiry that M. Richard had not been there at all that day. Amazed at this strange change in the old man's regular habits, Louis hastened to the lodgings they shared in the Rue de Grenelle.
CHAPTER XI.
HIDDEN TREASURE.
As Louis was passing the porter's lodge, that functionary remarked to him: