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spoken a word the whole way; but, as the moon was shining splendidly, I had full time to examine her.
    She was a lovely girl of two-and-twenty, a brunette, with large open blue eyes, beaming with expression, a fine straight nose, an arch mouth, teeth as white as pearls, hands fit for a princess, and small feet. All these attractions, under the homely garb of Mother Ledieu’s daughter, had preserved an aristocratic look which had, fairly enough, roused the suspicions of the worthy sergeant.
    On reaching the house, we stood still a moment looking at each other.
    ‘Well, what is your pleasure now, my dear Monsieur Albert?’ inquired the stranger, smiling.
    ‘I wanted to say, my dear Solange, that there was little use in our meeting, if we are to part so hastily.’
    ‘Many pardons, sir. I think it has been of much use, though; for, had I not met you, I should have been taken to the guard-house; they would have found out that I was not the daughter of Mother Ledieu; I should have been discovered to be an aristocrat, and they might have cut my head off.’
    ‘So, then, you confess that you are an aristocrat?’
    ‘I confess nothing.’
    ‘Come, tell me your name, at least.’
    ‘Solange.’
    ‘I gave you that name at random; it is not yours.’
    ‘Never mind; I like it, and shall keep it – for you, at least.’
    ‘Why need you keep it for me, if I am not to see you again?’
    ‘I don’t say that. All I say is, that if we meet again, you need not know my name, nor I yours. I gave you the name of Albert; keep that name, as I shall keep that of Solange.’
    ‘Well, be it so; but stay, Solange, you say you are an aristocrat?’
    ‘If I did not confess as much, you would guess the truth, would you not?’
    ‘And being an aristocrat, you are pursued as such?’
    ‘Something of the kind there is.’
    ‘And you are hiding yourself to escape the search?’
    ‘At No. 24, Rue Ferou, with Mother Ledieu, whose husband was once my father’s coachman. You see, I am quite unreserved with you.’
    ‘And your father?’
    ‘My own secrets I discover to you freely, my dear sir; but my father’s secrets are not mine. My father is hiding, on his part, until he finds an opportunity to emigrate. That is all I can let you know.’
    ‘And, with regard to yourself, what do you mean to do?’
    ‘Set out with my father, if possible; if otherwise, let him go alone, and join him afterwards.’
    ‘Tonight, when you were arrested, you had been to see your father?’
    ‘I had.’
    ‘Listen to me, dear Solange.’
    ‘I am doing so.’
    ‘You saw what took place just now?’
    ‘Yes; and it has given me the measure of–’
    ‘Oh, my own credit is nothing at all; but I have friends.’
    ‘I have become acquainted with one of them this evening.’
    ‘And you know that he is not one of the least powerful men of the day.’
    ‘Do you propose to use his influence to favour my father’s flight?’
    ‘No, I reserve it for you.’
    ‘But my father?’
    ‘For him I have thought of another plan.’
    ‘You have a plan to save my father!’ cried Solange, seizing my hands, and looking up earnestly into my face.
    ‘If I save your father, will you bear me in your remembrance?’
    ‘I shall be grateful to you all my life after.’
    She uttered the words with a look of pre-existent gratitude that was perfectly bewitching. Then looking at me, and in a supplicating tone, she said:
    ‘But will that be enough?’
    ‘Yes,’ I answered.
    ‘Come, I was not mistaken; you have a noble heart. I thank you in my father’s name and my own; and even should you not succeed, for the future I shall still be equally obliged to you for what you have done.’
    ‘When shall we meet again, Solange?’
    ‘When you require me next.’
    ‘Tomorrow I hope to have some good news to communicate.’
    ‘Let it be tomorrow, then.’
    ‘Where?’
    ‘Here, if you like.’
    ‘Here! in the street?’
    ‘It is the safest place, you see; we have been talking