The marquise stopped the carriage at the door so well known to her, although she had seen it only once, under circumstances, it will now be remembered, no less painful than those which brought her now to it again.

She drew a key from her pocket, and inserted it into the lock, pushed open the door, which noiselessly yielded to her touch, and directed the clerk to carry the chest upstairs to the first floor.

The weight of the chest was so great that the clerk was obliged to get the coachman to assist him with it.

They placed it in a small cabinet, ante-room, or boudoir rather, adjoining the saloon where we once saw M.Fouquet at the marquise's feet.

Madame de Belliere gave the coachman a louis, smiled gracefully at the clerk, and dismissed them both.