"Nineteen."
"Why, that is just my age!"
"Ah! you are nineteen? And what about your parents? I never see them with you. But I remember now, that you told me that you had lost them."
"I never knew my parents, monsieur; I am an abandoned child!"
"Abandoned! is it possible? what a strange coincidence!—Were you abandoned in Paris?"
Violette, remembering the count's injunction, replied hesitatingly:
"Why—I don't know, monsieur; I—I think so."
"Poor child, what a pity! her parents do not realize what a treasure they cast away."
Roncherolle buried his face in his pillow, murmuring:
"But my child—I do not know her; perhaps she too is lovely and good! ah! if I could only find her! But no! why should I wish to? to force her to share my destitution?—No, it is better as it is."