As she said this Valentine emerged from the tower door followed wearily by Papa Bonneton, in full regalia, his mild face expressing all that it could of severity.

“What has happened?” he said sharply to Alice.  Then, with a habit of deference, he lifted his three-cornered hat to the lady:  “Madam will understand that it was difficult for me to leave my duties.”

Madam stood silent, ghastly white, hands clinched so hard that the gems cut into her flesh, eyes fixed on the girl in a last anguished supplication.

Then Alice said to the sacristan:  “Madam wants to hear the sound of the great bell.  She asked me to strike it with the hammer, but I told her that is forbidden during high mass.  Madam offered ten francs—­twenty francs—­she is going away and is very anxious to hear the bell; she has read about its beautiful tone.  When madam offered twenty francs, I thought it my duty to let you know.”  All this with a self-possession that the daughters of Eve have acquired through centuries of practice.

“Twenty francs!” muttered the guileless Bonneton.  “You were right, my child, perfectly right.  That rule was made for ordinary visitors, but with madam it is different.  I myself will strike the bell for madam.”  And with all dispatch he entered the Southern tower, where the great bourdon hangs, whispering:  “Twenty francs!  It’s a miracle.”

No sooner was he gone than the lady caught the girl’s two hands in hers, and with her whole soul in her eyes she cried:  “God bless you!  God bless you!”

Alice tried to speak, but the words choked her, and, leaning over the balustrade, she looked yearningly toward the prison, her lips moving in silence:  “Lloyd!  Lloyd!” Then the great bell struck and she turned with a start, brushing away the tears that dimmed her eyes.

A moment later Papa Bonneton reappeared, scarcely believing that already he had earned his louis and insisting on telling madam various things about the bell—­that it was presented by Louis XIV, and weighed over seventeen tons; that eight men were required to ring it, two poised at each corner of the rocking framework; that the note it sounded was fa diese—­did madam understand that? Do, re, mi, fa? And more of the sort until madam assured him that she was fully satisfied and would not keep him longer from his duties.  Whereupon, with a torrent of thanks, the old man disappeared in the tower, looking unbelievingly at the gold piece in his hand.

“And now what?” asked Alice with feverish eagerness when they were alone again.

“Let me tell you, first, what you have saved me from,” said the lady, leaning weakly against the balustrade.  A feeling of faintness had come over her in the reaction from her violent emotion.

“No, no,” replied the girl, “this is the time for action, not sentiment.  You have promised to save him, now do it.”

“I will,” declared the other, and the light of a fine purpose gave a dignity to her rather selfish beauty.  “Or, rather, we will save him together.  First, I want you to take this money—­you will take it now for him? That’s right, put it in your dress.  Ah,” she smiled as Alice obeyed her.  “That is for a lawyer.  He must have a good lawyer at once.”