After a few moments, Violette was ushered into the presence of Madame de Grangeville, who was seated before her mirror, completing her morning toilet, and who smiled at the young girl, saying to her:
"Ah! here is my pretty little flower girl. It is a long while since you came last, little one; I am neglected nowadays; Monsieur de Merval is less attentive to me."
"Let me see your bouquet; it is very pretty, but I saw finer ones at the ball last night. Sit down, my girl, and let us talk a bit. Why! how you are dressed up to-day! where are you going this morning, pray?"
"Oho! then it was for me that you made this toilet. You look very well; and I--this cap--do you think that it is becoming to me? I look a little tired, do I not? They absolutely insisted upon making me dance last night.--But what ails you, my child? One would say that you were not listening to me; you seem distraught."
"Since I had the honor to see you last, I have learned something about----"
"Your family; you told me that you were an abandoned child."
"True, madame; but someone who knew my nurse has told me several things which may help me, they say, to find my parents."
"Really--I think I will put on a blue ribbon instead of a pink one, it will look better.--Were you not left at the Foundling Hospital in Paris?"
"No, madame, I was born in Paris, but I was given in charge of a nurse, who came from Picardie, and who went back to her province at once."
Madame de Grangeville ceased to toy with her cap and said to Mademoiselle Lizida, who was putting the room in order:
"Leave us, go.--You were saying that your nurse lived in Picardie?"
"Marguerite--are you sure that her name was Marguerite?"
"And--and you--what name did your parents give you?"
"The gentleman who placed me in my nurse's hands--she did not know whether he was my father, but she presumed that he was--told her that my name was Evelina de Paulausky."
Madame de Grangeville moved suddenly on her chair; but instead of approaching Violette, she drew away from her; one would have thought that she was afraid of the girl. The latter waited anxiously to hear what the lady was going to say to her; but several moments, which seemed very long, passed, and not a word fell from the lips of Madame de Grangeville, whose head had fallen on her breast, and who seemed to be absorbed in her reflections.