—­A little sin of vanity, but extremely pardonable.  If you have no greater ones than that, you are really an honest girl.

He looked at her and smiled.  Zulma caught his look, and blushed.

—­Where are you going to stay at Nancy?

—­The gentleman who paid my fare, gave me also the address of a house where I can rest for a day or two while I am waiting for news from my company:  the Hotel du Cygne de la Croix.

—­I know it, said Ridoux who had just woke up, it is a respectable house, the best which a young person like you could meet with.  I have no doubt but that you will be welcomed there and at a moderate price, being recommended by the worthy Monsieur Tibulle.  The mistress of the establishment is a conscientious lady, well-disposed and observing her religious duties.  She is not one who will give you meat on a Friday.  Monsieur Tibulle takes a great interest in you then?

—­Yes, sir.  He has even said that if I wished, he would find a more suitable position for me; but what position could he give me?

—­He might find you some ... he is an influential man.  I invite you to follow his advice.  He is a member of the Society for the protection of poor young girls.

—­But, no doubt, I shall not see him again.

—­Then, said Marcel, I, for my part, would wish to be useful to you; but unfortunately, you are only passing through, and I also am not here for long.  Nevertheless, if for one cause or another you should have need of anyone ... you understand ... a young girl might find herself at a loss in a huge town ... you will enquire for the Abbe Marcel at this address.

-Many thanks, sir.

They had arrived.  The travellers separated.  The young girl with her small amount of luggage directed her steps in all confidence towards the inn which the old member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul had acquainted her with, while Ridoux and Marcel took their way to the Place d’Alliance, where resided the Comtesse de Montluisant.

LXXXII.

THE CHURCH-WOMAN.

“Devotion is the sole resource of coquettes:  when they are become old, God becomes the last resource of all women who know not aught else to do.”

  MME. DE REUX.

As his uncle had foreseen, the young Cure pleased the old lady greatly.  She examined him with satisfaction and predicted that he would make his way.

—­You have not deceived me, she said to Ridoux, here is a priest such as we require.  We are encumbered with awkward, ridiculous, red-raced men, who bring religion into disrepute.  Why not send all those peasants back to their village, and select men like Monsieur l’Abbe?  It is a shame, an absolute shame to allow you to stagnate in this way.  I shall reproach Monseigneur severely for it.

—­It is the fault of the Grand-Vicar Gobin, said Ridoux; he had taken a dislike to my nephew.