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accompanied to and from the studio。 The only defect of this truly
poetic creature came from the very power of a beauty so fully
developed； she looked a woman。 Marriage she had refused out of love to
her father and mother； feeling herself necessary to the comfort of
their old age。 Her taste for painting took the place of the passions
and interests which usually absorb her sex。
〃You are very silent to…day； mesdemoiselles；〃 she said； after
advancing a little way among her companions。 〃Good…morning； my little
Laure；〃 she added； in a soft； caressing voice； approaching the young
girl who was painting apart from the rest。 〃That head is strong；the
flesh tints a little too rosy； but the drawing is excellent。〃
Laure raised her head and looked tenderly at Ginevra； their faces
beamed with the expression of a mutual affection。 A faint smile
brightened the lips of the young Italian； who seemed thoughtful； and
walked slowly to her easel； glancing carelessly at the drawings and
paintings on her way； and bidding good…morning to each of the young
girls of the first group； not observing the unusual curiosity excited
by her presence。 She was like a queen in the midst of her court； she
paid no attention to the profound silence that reigned among the
patricians； and passed before their camp without pronouncing a single
word。 Her absorption seemed so great that she sat down before her
easel； opened her color…box； took up her brushes； drew on her brown
sleeves； arranged her apron； looked at her picture； examined her
palette； without； apparently； thinking of what she was doing。 All
heads in the group of the bourgeoises were turned toward her。 If the
young ladies in the Thirion camp did not show their impatience with
the same frankness； their sidelong glances were none the less directed
on Ginevra。
〃She hasn't noticed it！〃 said Mademoiselle Roguin。
At this instant Ginevra abandoned the meditative attitude in which she
had been contemplating her canvas； and turned her head toward the
group of aristocrats。 She measured； at a glance； the distance that now
separated her from them； but she said nothing。
〃It hasn't occurred to her that they meant to insult her；〃 said
Matilde； 〃she neither colored nor turned pale。 How vexed these girls
will be if she likes her new place as well as the old！ You are out of
bounds； mademoiselle；〃 she added； aloud； addressing Ginevra。
The Italian pretended not to hear； perhaps she really did not hear。
She rose abruptly； walked with a certain deliberation along the side
of the partition which separated the adjoining closet from the studio；
and seemed to be examining the sash through which her light came；
giving so much importance to it that she mounted a chair to raise the
green serge； which intercepted the light； much higher。 Reaching that
height； her eye was on a level with a slight opening in the partition；
the real object of her efforts； for the glance that she cast through
it can be compared only to that of a miser discovering Aladdin's
treasure。 Then she sprang down hastily and returned to her place；
changed the position of her picture； pretended to be still
dissatisfied with the light； pushed a table close to the partition； on
which she placed a chair； climbed lightly to the summit of this
erection； and again looked through the crevice。 She cast but one
glance into the space beyond； which was lighted through a skylight；
but what she saw produced so strong an effect upon her that she
tottered。
〃Take care； Mademoiselle Ginevra； you'll fall！〃 cried Laure。
All the young girls gazed at the imprudent climber； and the fear of
their coming to her gave her courage； she recovered her equilibrium；
and replied； as she balanced herself on the shaking chair：
〃Pooh！ it is more solid than a throne！〃
She then secured the curtain and came down； pushed the chair and table
as far as possible from the partition； returned to her easel； and
seemed to be arranging it to suit the volume of light she had now
thrown upon it。 Her picture； however； was not in her mind； which was
wholly bent on getting as near as possible to the closet； against the
door of which she finally settled herself。 Then she began to prepare
her palette in the deepest silence。 Sitting there； she could hear；
distinctly； a sound which had strongly excited her curiosity the
evening before； and had whirled her young imagination across vast
fields of conjecture。 She recognized the firm and regular breathing of
a man whom she had just seen asleep。 Her curiosity was satisfied
beyond her expectations； but at the same time she felt saddled by an
immense responsibility。 Through the opening in the wall she had seen
the Imperial eagle； and upon the flock bed； faintly lighted from
above； lay the form of an officer of the Guard。 She guessed all。
Servin was hiding a proscribed man！
She now trembled lest any of her companions should come near here to
examine her picture； when the regular breathing or some deeper breath
might reveal to them； as it had to her； the presence of this political
victim。 She resolved to keep her place beside that door； trusting to
her wits to baffle all dangerous chances that might arise。
〃Better that I should be here；〃 thought she； 〃to prevent some luckless
accident； than leave that poor man at the mercy of a heedless
betrayal。〃
This was the secret of the indifference which Ginevra had apparently
shown to the removal of her easel。 She was inwardly enchanted； because
the change had enabled her to gratify her curiosity in a natural
manner； besides； at this moment； she was too keenly preoccupied to
perceive the reason of her removal。
Nothing is more mortifying to young girls； or； indeed； to all the
world； than to see a piece of mischief； an insult； or a biting speech；
miss its effect through the contempt or the indifference of the
intended victim。 It seems as if hatred to an enemy grows in proportion
to the height that enemy is raised above us。 Ginevra's behavior was an
enigma to all her companions； her friends and enemies were equally
surprised； for the former claimed for her all good qualities； except
that of forgiveness of injuries。 Though； of course； the occasions for
displaying that vice of nature were seldom afforded to Ginevra in the
life of a studio； still； the specimens she had now and then given of
her vindictive disposition had left a strong impression on the minds
of her companions。
After many conjectures； Mademoiselle Roguin came to the conclusion
that the Italian's silence showed a grandeur of soul beyond all
praise； and the banking circle； inspired by her； formed a project to
humiliate the aristocracy。 They succeeded in that aim by a fire of
sarcasms which presently brought down the pride of the Right coterie。
Madame Servin's arrival put a stop to the struggle。 With the
shrewdness that usually accompanies malice； Amelie Thirion had
noticed； analyzed； and mentally commented on the extreme preoccupation
of Ginevra's mind； which prevented her from even hearing the bitterly
polite war of words of which she was the object。 The vengeance
Mademoiselle Roguin and her companions were inflicting on Mademoiselle
Thirion and her group had； therefore； the fatal effect of driving the
young ULTRAS to search for the cause of the silence so obstinately
maintained by Ginevra di Piombo。 The beautiful Italian became the
centre of all glances； and she was henceforth watched by friends and
foes alike。
It is very difficult to hide even a slight emotion or sentiment from
fifteen inquisitive and unoccupied young girls； whose wits and
mischief ask for nothing better than secrets to guess； schemes to
create or baffle； and who know how to find too many interpretations
for each gesture； glance； and word； to fail in discovering the right
one。
At this moment； however； the presence of Madame Servin produced an
interlude in the drama thus played below the surface in these various
young hearts； the sentiments； ideas； and progress of which were
expressed by phrases that were almost allegorical； by mischievous
glances； by gestures； by silence even； more intelligible than words。
As soon as Madame Servin entered the studio； her eyes turned to the
door near which Ginevra was seated。 Under present circumstances the
fact of this glance was not lost。 Though at first none of the pupils
took notice of it； Mademoiselle Thirion recollected it later； and it
explained to her the doubt； fear； and mystery which now gave something
wild and frightened to Madame Servin's eyes。
〃Mesdemoiselles；〃 she said； 〃Monsieur Servin cannot come to…day。〃
Then she went round complimenting each young girl； receiving in return
a volume of those feminine caresses which are given as much by the
tones of the voice and by looks as by gestures。 She presently reached
Ginevra； under the influence of an uneasiness she tried in vain to
disguise。 They nodded