"'You told me, madam,' said she at length, 'that you had something of importance to communicate to me; and that the life or death of a man was at stake!' You see, M. Charles, those words were sure to work a due effect. 'I did, indeed, my sweet young lady, but don't alarm yourself, since the secret alluded to does not refer to you, but to your amiable and excellent mistress, whom you so tenderly love—at least, as I believe you do.' 'Oh, indeed, madam, I do most ardently reverence and adore my honoured mistress.' 'And you would not, willingly, occasion her the slightest uneasiness, I doubt not?' said I. 'Certainly, I would not,' answered my companion. 'Well, then, my dear child, all I can say is, that, without intending it, you are preparing the way for much future distress and sorrow to your mistress by not putting her in the right way to prevent a very grievous misfortune.' 'How so, madam?' 'Ah, my dear, an unfortunate young man,—but I cannot say more at present; but, indeed, my child, this poor gentleman is much, very much, to be pitied; if you will only let him speak for himself, he will come instead of me to-morrow evening in a coach, and wait for you at the little side gate, he will then tell you the whole history and explain every thing.' 'Oh, no, indeed,' exclaimed my timid acquaintance, 'I never would do such a thing; I should never have sufficient courage to meet a stranger in that way.' 'But, suppose it referred to matters of first-rate importance to your mistress?' 'Then,' rejoined the simpleton, 'I will speak to her excellency, the princess, on the subject, and request to know her pleasure.' 'Have a care,' said I, solemnly, 'how you breathe a word of the affair; listen, first, to what the poor young man says; and, if he fails to interest you, it will be quite useless mentioning it to your mistress. There would, indeed, be one very excellent way of arranging the matter, and that would be, for her Excellency to accompany you to-morrow night. Nay, nay, my good girl, do not look so very much shocked and alarmed at my hinting at such a thing; the communication to be made is of the most honourable description. Don't run away with the idea that it is merely to listen to some love story, that I ask you to permit the unhappy young man to tell his own tale; depend upon it, a person at my time of life has no taste for mixing themselves up with such follies as that. No, no; the present affair relates to the saving the life of a truly unfortunate individual. However, as I said before, I must not enter into any further explanation at this moment. Grant the meeting I ask of you; and, if you see any necessity for it, you may even apprise the princess of your having done so.' 'And may I also acquaint the prince?' inquired the simpleton."
"Why, the girl must be a fool, or a knave, to hint at such a thing!"
"I must own, M. Charles, that, at these words, I rather regretted having gone so far; but I soon felt convinced, that the niaiserie just uttered arose entirely from the almost childish ignorance of my companion, who appeared to me scarcely more than sixteen years of age. At last, after an infinity of trouble, accompanied with all sorts of arguments and backed by many promises, I got her to agree to meet you in the same manner she had done me; that is to say, you will wait for her, in a coach, at the little garden gate."
"This evening?"
"No, to-morrow. She told me her mistress was not going out to-night; but that to-morrow she would be going to the Opera, and that you might, therefore, be at the small door in the garden about nine o'clock. Now, M. Charles, the rest is your affair. I have brought you into communication with the girl, and, in some degree, with the mistress also; for, simple and ingenuous as the young mulatto evidently is, she is quite sure to relate all that has passed to her mistress. So that, should the girl keep her appointment with her mistress's sanction, I should say you are on the highroad to success; but if, on the contrary, the blackamoor does not meet you, then, I should decidedly pronounce it a bad sign."
"Mother Grassot, you are an incomparable woman! Here, hold your hand; take these five louis to pay for your coach-hire."
"Oh, really, really, monsieur, you are too generous: well, if you insist, certainly. Is there any thing else I can do for you?"
"Not that I recollect. Just tell me, have you asked your second-floor lodger to quit his apartments, telling him I wish to have the whole of this little house to myself?"
"Lord bless me, what a memory I have! I quite forgot to name to you that I have spoken to the person, and he says he has no manner of objections to turn out provided you give him 1000 francs as a recompense."
"The fellow must be mad! why, he scarcely pays 400 francs a-year for his lodging."