h； had nevertheless passed the trying years of infancy and early adolescence； he was them nearly fourteen。 With a sweet and rather effeminate expression； blue eyes and a pleasant smile； he was a striking likeness of his mother。 His father's affection exaggerated the dangers which threatened the boy； and in his eyes the slightest indisposition became a serious malady； his mother shared these fears； and in consequence of this anxiety Edouard's education had been much neglected。 He had been brought up at Buisson…Souef； and allowed to run wild from morning till night； like a young fawn； exercising the vigour and activity of its limbs。 He had still the simplicity and general ignorance of a child of nine or ten。
The necessity of appearing at court and suitably defraying the expenses of his office had made great inroads on Monsieur de Lamotte's fortune。 He had of late lived at Buisson…Souef in the most complete retirement； but notwithstanding this too long deferred attention to his affairs； his property was ruining him； for the place required a large expenditure； and absorbed a large amount of his income without making any tangible return。 He had always hesitated to dispose of the estate on account of its associations； it was there he had met； courted； and married his beloved wife； there that the happy days of their youth had been spent； there that they both wished to grow old together。
Such was the family to which accident had now introduced Derues。 The unfavourable impression made on Monsieur de Lamotte had not passed unperceived by him； but； being quite accustomed to the instinctive repugnance which his first appearance generally inspired； Derues had made a successful study of how to combat and efface this antagonistic feeling； and replace it by confidence； using different means according to the persons he had to deal with。 He understood at once that vulgar methods would be useless with Monsieur de Lamotte； whose appearance and manners indicated both the man of the world and the man of intelligence； and also he had to consider the two priests； who were both observing him attentively。 Fearing a false step； he assumed the most simple and insignificant deportment he could； knowing that sooner or later a third person would rehabilitate him in the opinion of those present。 Nor did he wait long。
Arrived at the drawing…room； Monsieur de Lamotte requested the company to be seated。 Derues acknowledged the courtesy by a bow； and there was a moment of silence； while Edouard and his mother looked at each other and smiled。 The silence was broken by Madame de Lamotte。
〃Dear Pierre；〃 she said； 〃 you are surprised to see us accompanied by a stranger； but when you hear what he has done for us you will thank me for having induced him to return here with us。〃
〃Allow me；〃 interrupted Derues； 〃allow me to tell you what happened。 The gratitude which madame imagines she owes me causes her to exaggerate a small service which anybody would have been delighted to render。〃
〃No； monsieur； let me tell it。〃
〃Let mamma tell the story；〃 said Edouard。
〃What is it； then？ What happened？〃 said Monsieur de Lamotte。
〃I am quite ashamed；〃 answered Derues ； 〃 but I obey your wishes； madame。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Madame de Lamotte； 〃keep your seat； I wish it。 Imagine； Pierre； just six days ago； an accident happened to Edouard and me which might have had serious consequences。〃
〃And you never wrote to me； Marie？〃
〃I should only have made you anxious； and to no purpose。 I had some business in one of the most crowded parts of Paris； I took a chair； and Edouard walked beside me。 In the rue Beaubourg we were suddenly surrounded by a mob of low people； who were quarrelling。 Carriages stopped the way； and the horses of one of these took fright in the confusion and uproar； and bolted； in spite of the coachman's endeavours to keep them in hand。 It was a horrible tumult； and I tried to get out of the chair； but at that moment the chairmen were both knocked down； and I fell。 It is a miracle I was not crushed。 I was dragged insensible from under the horses' feet and carried into the house before which all this took place。 There； sheltered in a shop and safe from the crowd which encumbered the doorway； I recovered my senses； thanks to the assistance of Monsieur Derues； who lives there。 But that is not all： when I recovered I could not walk； I had been so shaken by the fright； the fall； and the danger I had incurred； and I had to accept his offer of finding me another chair when the crowd should disperse； and meanwhile to take shelter in his rooms with his wife； who showed me the kindest attention。〃
〃Monsieur〃 said Monsieur de Lamotte； rising。 But his wife stopped him。
〃Wait a moment； I have not finished yet。 Monsieur Derues came back in an hour； and I was then feeling better； but before； I left I was stupid enough to say that I had been robbed in the confusion； my diamond earrings； which had belonged to my mother； were gone。 You cannot imagine the trouble Monsieur Derues took to discover the thief； and all the appeals he made to the policeI was really ashamed！〃
Although Monsieur de Lamotte did not yet understand what motive； other than gratitude； had induced his wife to bring this stranger home with her； he again rose from his seat； and going to Derues； held out his hand。
〃I understand now the attachment my son shows for you。 You are wrong in trying to lessen your good deed in order to escape from our gratitude； Monsieur Derues。〃
〃Monsieur Derues？〃 inquired the monk。
〃Do you know the name； my father？〃 asked Madame de Lamotte eagerly。
〃Edouard had already told me；〃 said the monk； approaching Derues。
〃You live in the； rue Beaubourg； and you are Monsieur Derues； formerly a retail grocer？〃
〃The same； my brother。〃
〃Should you require a reference； I can give it。 Chance； madame； has made you acquainted with a man whose； reputation for piety and honour is well established； he will permit me to add my praises to yours。〃
〃Indeed； I do not know how I deserve so much honour。〃
〃I am； Brother Marchois； of the Camaldulian order。 You see that I know you well。〃
The monk then proceeded to explain that his community had confided their affairs to Derues' honesty； he undertaking to dispose of the articles manufactured by the monks in their retreat。 He then recounted a number of good actions and of marks of piety； which were heard with pleasure and admiration by those present。 Derues received this cloud of incense with an appearance of sincere modesty and humility； which would have deceived the most skilful physiognomist。
When the eulogistic warmth of the good brother began to slacken it was already nearly dark； and the two priests had barely time to regain the presbytery without incurring the risk of breaking their necks in the rough road which led to it。 They departed at once； and a room was got ready for Derues。
〃To…morrow；〃 said Madame de Lamotte as they separated； 〃 you can discuss with my husband the business on which you came： to…morrow； or another day； for I beg that you will make yourself at home here； and the longer you will stay the better it will please us。〃
The night was a sleepless one for Derues； whose brain was occupied by a confusion of criminal plans。 The chance which had caused his acquaintance with Madame de Lamotte； and even more the accident of Brother Marchois appearing in the nick of time； to enlarge upon the praises which gave him so excellent a character； seemed like favourable omens not to be neglected。 He began to imagine fresh villanies； to outline an unheard…of crime； which as yet he could not definitely trace out； but anyhow there would be plunder to seize and blood to spill； and the spirit of murder excited and kept him awake； just as remorse might have troubled the repose of another。
Meanwhile Madame de Lamotte； having retired with her husband； was saying to the latter
〃Well； now！ what do you think of my protege； or rather； of the protector which Heaven sent me？〃
〃I think that physiognomy is often very deceptive； for I should have been quite willing to hang him on the strength of his。〃
〃It is true that his appearance is not attractive； and it led me into a foolish mistake which I quickly regretted。 When I recovered consciousness； and saw him attending on me； much worse and more carelessly dressed than he is to…day 〃
〃You were frightened？〃
〃No； not exactly； but I thought I must be indebted to a man of the lowest class； to some poor fellow who was really starving； and my first effort at gratitude was to offer him a piece of gold。〃
〃Did he refuse it？〃
〃No； he accepted it for the poor of the parish。 Then he told me his name； Cyrano Derues de Bury； and told me that the shop and the goods it contained were his own property； and that he occupied an apartment in the house。 I floundered in excuses； but he replied that he blessed the mistake； inasmuch as it would enable him to relieve some unfortunate people。 I was so touched with his goodness that I offered him a second piece of gold。〃
〃You were quite right； my dear； but what induced you to bring him to Buisson ？ I should have gone to see and thank him the first time I went to Paris； and meanwhile a letter would have been sufficient。 Did he carry his complaisance and interest so far as to offer you his escort？〃
〃Ah！ I see you cannot get over your first impressionhonestly； is it not so？〃
〃Indeed；〃 exclaimed Monsieur de Lamotte； laughing heartily； 〃it is truly unlucky for a decent man to have such a face as that！ He ought to give Providence no rest until he obtains the gift of another countenance。〃
〃Always these prejudices！ It is not the poor man's fault that he was born like that。〃
〃Well； you said something about business we were to discuss together what is it？〃
〃I believe he can help us to obtain the money we are in want of。〃
〃And who told him that we wanted any？〃
〃I did。〃
〃You！ Come； it certainly seems that this gentleman is to be a family friend。 And pray what induced you to confide in him to this extent？〃
〃You would have known by now； if you did not interrupt。 Let me tell you all in order。 The day after my accident I went out with Edouard about midday； and I went to again