ignorant believer, but as a depraved and dangerous good-for-nothing."

"It is not true!" exclaimed Marie.

"What! not true?" said the lady, flushing to the eyes.

"Before God, it is not true. I know all. I will tell you all. It was
for me only that exposed himself to all these misfortunes. If he did
not clear himself before his judges, it was because he would not drag
me before the authorities." Marie then related with warmth all that
the reader knows.

"Where do you lodge?" asked the lady, when the young girl had finished
her recital. Upon hearing that she was staying with the postmaster's
wife, she nodded, and said with a smile: "Ah! I know her. Adieu! tell
no one of our meeting. I hope you will not have long to wait for the
answer to your petition."

She rose and went away by a covered path. Marie went back to Anna's,
full of fair hope. The postmaster's wife was surprised that Marie took
so early a promenade, which might in Autumn, prove injurious to a young
girl's health. She brought the _Somovar_, and with her cup of tea was
going to relate one of her interminable stories, when a carriage with
the imperial escutcheon stopped before the door. A lackey, wearing the
imperial livery, entered and announced that her Majesty deigned to
order to her presence the daughter of Captain Mironoff!

"Ah!" exclaimed Anna, "the Empress orders you to Court! How did she
know you were with me? You can not present yourself--you do not know
how to walk in courtly fashion! I ought to go with you. Shall I not