“Have you any peculiar talent?”

“I write pretty well.”

“That is something.  When you go out, mistrust everybody; do not enter any cafe, and never speak to anyone in the streets.  Eat your meals in your room with your sister, and tell the landlady to give you a small closet to sleep in.  Write something in French to-day, let me have it to-morrow morning, and we will see what can be done.  As for you, mademoiselle, my books are at your disposal, I have your papers; to-morrow I may have some news to tell you; we shall not see each other again to-day, for I generally come home very late.”  She took a few books, made a modest reverence, and told me with a charming voice that she had every confidence in me.

Feeling disposed to be useful to her, wherever I went during that day I spoke of nothing but of her and of her affairs; and everywhere men and women told me that if she was pretty she could not fail, but that at all events it would be right for her to take all necessary steps.  I received a promise that the brother should be employed in some office.  I thought that the best plan would be to find some influential lady who would consent to present Mdlle.  Vesian to M. d’Argenson, and I knew that in the mean time I could support her.  I begged Silvia to mention the matter to Madame de Montconseil, who had very great influence with the secretary of war.  She promised to do so, but she wished to be acquainted with the young girl.

I returned to the hotel towards eleven o’clock, and seeing that there was a light still burning in the room of Mdlle.  Vesian I knocked at her door.  She opened it, and told me that she had sat up in the hope of seeing me.  I gave her an account of what I had done.  I found her disposed to undertake all that was necessary, and most grateful for my assistance.  She spoke of her position with an air of noble indifference which she assumed in order to restrain her tears; she succeeded in keeping them back, but the moisture in her eyes proved all the efforts she was making to prevent them from falling.  We had talked for two hours, and going from one subject to another I learned that she had never loved, and that she was therefore worthy of a lover who would reward her in a proper manner for the sacrifice of her virtue.  It would have been absurd to think that marriage was to be the reward of that sacrifice; the young girl had not yet made what is called a false step, but she had none of the prudish feelings of those girls who say that they would not take such a step for all the gold in the universe, and usually give way before the slightest attack; all my young friend wanted was to dispose of herself in a proper and advantageous manner.