The blacksmith recognized Mother Bunch’s voice, and opened the door.  But the young sempstress, instead of entering, drew back into the dark passage, and said, with a voice of anxiety:  “Agricola, it is an hour since broad day, and you have not yet departed!  How imprudent!  I have been watching below, in the street, until now, and have seen nothing alarming; but they may come any instant to arrest you.  Hasten, I conjure you, your departure for the abode of Miss de Cardoville.  Not a minute should be lost.”

“Had it not been for the arrival of Gabriel, I should have been gone.  But I could not resist the happiness of remaining some little time with him.”

“Gabriel here!” said Mother Bunch, with sweet surprise; for, as has been stated, she had been brought up with him and Agricola.

“Yes,” answered Agricola, “for half an hour he has been with my father and me.”

“What happiness I shall have in seeing him again,” said the sewing-girl.  “He doubtless came upstairs while I had gone for a brief space to your mother, to ask if I could be useful in any way on account of the young ladies; but they have been so fatigued that they still sleep.  Your mother has requested me to give you this letter for your father.  She has just received it.”

“Thanks.”

“Well,” resumed Mother Bunch, “now that you have seen Gabriel, do not delay long.  Think what a blow it would be for your father, if they came to arrest you in his very presence mon Dieu!”

“You are right,” said Agricola; “it is indispensable that I should depart—­while near Gabriel in spite of my anxiety, my fears were forgotten.”

“Go quickly, then; and if Miss de Cardoville should grant this favor, perhaps in a couple of hours you will return, quite at ease both as to yourself and us.”

“True! a very few minutes more; and I’ll come down.”

“I return to watch at the door.  If I perceive anything.  I’ll come up again to apprise you.  But pray, do not delay.”

“Be easy, good sister.”  Mother Bunch hurriedly descended the staircase, to resume her watch at the street door, and Agricola re-entered his garret.  “Dear father,” he said to Dagobert, “my mother has just received this letter, and she requests you to read it.”

“Very well; read it for me, my boy.”  And Agricola read as follows: 

“Madame.—­I understand that your husband has been charged by General Simon with an affair of very great importance.  Will you, as soon as your husband arrives in Paris, request him to come to my office at Chartres without a moment’s delay.  I am instructed to deliver to himself, and to no other person, some documents indispensable to the interests of General Simon.

“Durand, Notary at Chartres.”

Dagobert looked at his son with astonishment, and said to him, “Who can have told this gentleman already of my arrival in Paris?”

“Perhaps, father,” said Agricola, “this is the notary to whom you transmitted some papers, and whose address you have lost.”