ShewasverymuchfrightenedbytheEgyptians，andwept。
ButhermotherkissedhermorewarmlyandwentawayenchantedwiththegoodfortunewhichthesoothsayershadforetoldforherAgnes。Shewastobeabeauty，virtuous，aqueen。
SoshereturnedtoheratticintheRueFolle-Peine，veryproudofbearingwithheraqueen。Thenextdayshetookadvantageofamomentwhenthechildwasasleeponherbed，fortheyalwaysslepttogether，gentlyleftthedooralittlewayopen，andrantotellaneighborintheRuedelaSéchesserie，thatthedaywouldcomewhenherdaughterAgneswouldbeservedattablebytheKingofEnglandandtheArchdukeofEthiopia，andahundredothermarvels。Onherreturn，hearingnocriesonthestaircase，shesaidtoherself:’Good！thechildisstillasleep！’Shefoundherdoorwideropenthanshehadleftit，butsheentered，poormother，andrantothebed——Thechildwasnolongerthere，theplacewasempty。Nothingremainedofthechild，butoneofherprettylittleshoes。Sheflewoutoftheroom，dasheddownthestairs，andbegantobeatherheadagainstthewall，crying:’Mychild！whohasmychild？Whohastakenmychild？’Thestreetwasdeserted，thehouseisolated；noonecouldtellheranythingaboutit。Shewentaboutthetown，searchedallthestreets，ranhitherandthitherthewholedaylong，wild，besideherself，terrible，snuffingatdoorsandwindowslikeawildbeastwhichhaslostitsyoung。Shewasbreathless，dishevelled，frightfultosee，andtherewasafireinhereyeswhichdriedhertears。Shestoppedthepassers-byandcried:’Mydaughter！mydaughter！myprettylittledaughter！Ifanyonewillgivemebackmydaughter，Iwillhehisservant，theservantofhisdog，andheshalleatmyheartifhewill。’ShemetM。leCuréofSaint-
Remy，andsaidtohim:’Monsieur，Iwilltilltheearthwithmyfinger-nails，butgivemebackmychild！’Itwasheartrending，Oudarde；andILsawaveryhardman，MasterPonceLacabre，theprocurator，weep。Ah！poormother！Intheeveningshereturnedhome。Duringherabsence，aneighborhadseentwogypsiesascenduptoitwithabundleintheirarms，thendescendagain，afterclosingthedoor。Aftertheirdeparture，somethinglikethecriesofachildwereheardinPaquette’sroom。Themother，burstintoshrieksoflaughter，ascendedthestairsasthoughonwings，andentered——A
frightfulthingtotell，Oudarde！InsteadofherprettylittleAgnes，sorosyandsofresh，whowasagiftofthegoodGod，asortofhideouslittlemonster，lame，one-eyed，deformed，wascrawlingandsquallingoverthefloor。Shehidhereyesinhorror。’Oh！’saidshe，’havethewitchestransformedmydaughterintothishorribleanimal？’Theyhastenedtocarryawaythelittleclub-foot；hewouldhavedrivenhermad。Itwasthemonstrouschildofsomegypsywoman，whohadgivenherselftothedevil。Heappearedtobeaboutfouryearsold，andtalkedalanguagewhichwasnohumantongue；therewerewordsinitwhichwereimpossible。LaChantefleurieflungherselfuponthelittleshoe，allthatremainedtoherofallthatsheloved。Sheremainedsolongmotionlessoverit，mute，andwithoutbreath，thattheythoughtshewasdead。