She seated herself in her armchair, took a little piece of linen from
the table before her, and began to sew as if she were employed to do
so.

Godefroid, lost in conjecture, and still thinking of a royalist
conspiracy, took his landlady's remark as an opening, and he began to
study her as he seated himself beside her. He was struck by the
singular dexterity with which she worked. Although everything about
her bespoke the great lady, she showed the dexterity of a workwoman;
for every one can see at a glance, by certain manipulations, the work
of a workman or an amateur.

"You do that," said Godefroid, "as if you knew the trade."

"Alas!" she answered, without raising her head, "I did know it once
out of necessity."

Two large tears came into her eyes, and rolled down her cheeks to the
linen in her hand.

"Forgive me, madame!" cried Godefroid.

Madame de Chanterie looked at her new lodger, and saw such an
expression of genuine regret upon his face, that she made him a
friendly sign. After drying her eyes, she immediately recovered the
calmness that characterized her face, which was less cold than
chastened.

"You are here, Monsieur Godefroid,--for you know already that we shall