For some little time he had felt himself the object of a singular attention which he could not explain on the part of the woman whom we have just seen entering his office, who daily attended the church at, as Dorine says, his "special hour." Could it be for love?
That explanation was scarcely compatible with the maturity and the saintly, beatific air of this person, who, beneath a plain cap, called "a la Janseniste," by which fervent female souls of that sect were recognized, affected, like a nun, to hide her hair.

On the other hand, the rest of her clothing was of a neatness that was almost dainty, and the gold cross at her throat, suspended by a black velvet ribbon, excluded the idea of humble and hesitating mendicity.
The morning of the day on which the dinner at the Rocher de Cancale was to take place, la Peyrade, weary of a performance which had ended by preoccupying his mind, went up to the woman and asked her pointblank if she had any request to make of him.
"Monsieur," she answered, in a tone of solemnity, "is, I think, the celebrated Monsieur de la Peyrade, the advocate of the poor ?" "I am la Peyrade; and I have had, it is true, an opportunity to render services to the indigent persons of this quarter." "Would it, then, be asking too much of monsieur's goodness that he should suffer me to consult him ?" "This place," replied la Peyrade, "is not well chosen for such consultation.

What you have to say to me seems important, to judge by the length of time you have been hesitating to speak to me.

I live near here, rue Saint-Dominique d'Enfer, and if you will take the trouble to come to my office--" "It will not annoy monsieur ?" "Not in the least; my business is to hear clients." "At what hour--lest I disturb monsieur-- ?" "When you choose; I shall be at home all the morning." "Then I will hear another mass, at which I can take the communion.

I did not dare to do so at this mass, for the thought of speaking to monsieur so distracted my mind.