whole aspect that she had lost her natural protectors by the terrible
guillotine; but he did not know her exact name or station, nor could he
persuade his aunt to tell him. However, he fell head over ears in love
with her, whether she were princess or peasant; and though at first there
was something about her which made his passionate love conceal itself
with shy, awkward reserve, and then made it only appear in the guise of
deep, respectful devotion; yet, by-and-by,--by the same process of
reasoning, I suppose, that his aunt had gone through even before him--Jean
Morin began to let Hope oust Despair from his heart. Sometimes he
thought--perhaps years hence--that solitary, friendless lady, pent up in
squalor, might turn to him as to a friend and comforter--and then--and
then--. Meanwhile Jean Morin was most attentive to his aunt, whom he had
rather slighted before. He would linger over the accounts; would bring
her little presents; and, above all, he made a pet and favourite of
Pierre, the little cousin, who could tell him about all the ways of going
on of Mam'selle Cannes, as Virginie was called. Pierre was thoroughly
aware of the drift and cause of his cousin's inquiries; and was his
ardent partisan, as I have heard, even before Jean Morin had exactly
acknowledged his wishes to himself.

"It must have required some patience and much diplomacy, before Clement
de Crequy found out the exact place where his cousin was hidden. The old
gardener took the cause very much to heart; as, judging from my
recollections, I imagine he would have forwarded any fancy, however wild,
of Monsieur Clement's. (I will tell you afterwards how I came to know
all these particulars so well.)

"After Clement's return, on two succeeding days, from his dangerous
search, without meeting with any good result, Jacques entreated Monsieur
de Crequy to let him take it in hand. He represented that he, as