Page:The Mystery of Madeline Le Blanc (1900).djvu/104

104 ner, which was surrounded by a mass of people, and, working their way forward, at length they stood before heaps of ruins and ashes, which were being cleared away by some workmen.

"It was in this vicinity that I saw her, and this is the address on the envelope," said Irène, looking into Monsieur's face, and taking hold of his hand.

"When was this fire?" asked Joseph of one next to him.

"Last night," replied the stranger.

In silence, they watched the workmen for a while, when Monsieur turned and said, '"What fools we are for wandering here in Paris!"

"No, no," begged Irène, gripping his hand, "we will hunt elsewhere."

"Ha, ha! Ave Maria!" cried a laborer, not far from where they were standing, as he drew from the wet ashes and held high into the air a pearl rosary bearing a golden crucifix. And not far away lay some fragments of charred bones.

Irène sank into Monsieur's arms and was borne away from among the wondering crowd; Joseph relapsed again into silence; and the father began imme-