"Rue de Bretonvilliers, you said? Thanks, thanks, monsieur!"
"I don't know the number, but there are very few houses on that street as yet, and it will be easy for you to find it."
"Oh! yes, monsieur, yes, I will find it; thanks for your kindness."
"Go, my child; I hope that you will not make a useless journey!"
Ambroisine left the Hôtel de Marvejols and started off again; but she reflected on what the old servant had just told her. If the young count, since he had ceased to live with his father, led a more dissipated life than ever, of course he had entirely forgotten poor Bathilde.
That thought weighed heavily on Ambroisine's heart; she had never had any confidence in the oaths which the count had sworn to her friend; but it shook neither her resolution nor her courage.
Rue de Bretonvilliers, begun in 1615, contained as yet very few houses; the new buildings were, in many instances, separated by walls enclosing gardens or unimproved land. The belle baigneuse observed one house of a refined but curious style of architecture, consisting of three wings, two of which were on the street, while the third, which was much smaller, was at the rear of an immense courtyard.
Something told Ambroisine that that was Léodgard's residence, and she did not hesitate to knock there.
"Monsieur le Comte de Marvejols?" she inquired of an old woman whom she saw in the courtyard. The old woman nodded, then took a trumpet from her pocket and put it to her ear.
Ambroisine repeated her question, speaking very loud.