"Yes, mademoiselle, Miretta Dartaize. Here is the letter of recommendation with which I have been favored, for mademoiselle."
"Very well; but it is unnecessary—I have seen the sister of the person who gave you the letter.—You are a Milanese?"
"No, mademoiselle; I was born at Pau, in Béarn; but I have lived at Milan, or in the suburbs, ever since I was a child."
"And your relations?"
"I lost them when I was very young, all except an old female cousin, who still lives at Pau, and whose son, who is very fond of me, was kind enough to undertake to bring me to Paris."
"Where is this youth?"
"In the courtyard, mademoiselle."
"How did you make the journey?"
"On Bourriquet's back, both of us. Bourriquet is Cédrille's horse; he's a good beast and carried us finely; but we made short days, so as not to tire him."
"And your travelling companion—does he too hope to find a place in Paris?"