cruelly to the very depths of her being. Maurice, however, at last
recovered consciousness, and even sat down to the table and ate with a
fair appetite. Then Beauchene immediately shrugged his shoulders, and
began to jest about the unreasoning fears of women. And as time went by
Constance herself ceased to think of the incident.

On the morrow, when Mathieu had to attend to the delicate mission which
he had undertaken, he remembered the two women of whom Celeste, the maid,
had spoken on the day of his visit to the Seguins. He at first dismissed
all idea of that Madame Rouche, of whom the girl had spoken so strangely,
but he thought of making some inquiries respecting Madame Bourdieu, who
accommodated boarders at the little house where she resided in the Rue de
Miromesnil. And he seemed to remember that this woman had attended Madame
Morange at the time of Reine's birth, a circumstance which induced him to
question the cashier.

At the very first words the latter seemed greatly disturbed. "Yes, a lady
friend recommended Madame Bourdieu to my wife," said he; "but why do you
ask me?"

And as he spoke he looked at Mathieu with an expression of anguish, as if
that sudden mention of Madame Bourdieu's name signified that the young
fellow had guessed his secret preoccupations. It was as though he had
been abruptly surprised in wrong-doing. Perhaps, too, certain dim,
haunting thoughts, which he had long been painfully revolving in his
mind, without as yet being able to come to a decision, took shape at that
moment. At all events, he turned pale and his lips trembled.

Then, as Mathieu gave him to understand that it was a question of placing
Norine somewhere, he involuntarily let an avowal escape him.