"A rag! O my dear Blanche, speak more respectfully of this relic."
"My talisman is much prettier than that. It's a little piece of parchment. Wait, here it is." Saying these words Blanche opened her kerchief, and signed to Urbain to look in her corset, half disclosing her virgin neck as she spoke, in order that the supposed Ursule might better perceive her talisman.
"Ah, how charming!" exclaimed Urbain involuntarily.
"Is it not," said Blanche, smiling; "it's much prettier than that scrap of cloth."
Urbain had no strength with which to answer, he remained motionless, his eyes still fixed on the place where the lovely child hid her talisman, while Marguerite, contemplating the fragment of smallclothes, kissed it anew, repeating,—
"The worth of that has been well proven, which makes it all the more precious."
Blanche fastened her kerchief, and Urbain, still moved by what he had seen, sighed deeply.
"What is the matter with you," said the young girl, looking with interest at her whom she believed to be a simple country girl. "You seem grieved."
"Alas, mademoiselle! I was remembering that I was alone and without resources in this city, that I have no parents, no friends."
"Poor girl! Well, we will be your friends. Yes, I feel that I love you already, Ursule."