"Well, my child," she said, endeavoring to soften her harsh voice, "how are you to-night? Do you want anything?"
Francine's eyelids fluttered, and then slowly opened. A look of terrible horror came on her face as she beheld this most repulsive creature.
"Where am I?" faintly ejaculated the poor child.
"You are with good friends, who are anxious to make you happy."
Francine frowned. She was evidently trying to remember what had taken place.
La Roulante grew bolder. She seated herself on the foot of the bed.
"Virtue is a very good thing," she said, "but it neither feeds you nor clothes you. And it is rather a hard thing to starve and be cold when you are young, and then die in a hospital when you grow old. If a girl only realized this, she would never refuse what a nice young fellow offered!"
Francine started up with a burning face.
"What are you saying?" she cried. "But I do not wish to understand. Where am I?" She wrung her hands. "I remember now! I was gagged and carried away. I am not an ignorant child—I know too well the wickedness of this world, and I understand all. A villain, whose name my lips shall never pronounce, has placed me in this woman's house." Francine grasped La Roulante's arm. "Move aside," she said, "let me pass!"