amconvincedthatheisso，andhewillcertainlygoatonceandreporttotheauthorities，andtheywillbreaktheirheadsthinkingwhatthecounthastodoinPuy，andwhotheboyiswhoaccompaniesmylord。Well，thatisexactlywhatwewant：toputthebloodhoundsandmurderersonafalsescent。Thatisjusttheobjectofthecount，andforthatpurposeM。MorindeGuerivierehaslenthisonlyson，forallthatwehaveandare，ourlives，ourchildren，andeverythingelse，belongtoourkingandlord。Ihope，therefore，thatthecount’splanwillsucceed，andtheSafetyCommitteebeputonafalsescent。“
MeanwhilethepitifulcarriagecontainingSimon’sgoodshadslowlytakenitswaythroughthestreetsandhaltedatitsgoal，thecustom-housenearPorteMacon。BeforethebuildingstoodawomanintheneatandtastefulcostumeofthewasherwomenfromthevillageofVannes，whichthen，asnow，wastheabodeofthewasherwomenofParis。
“Well，“criedthewoman，withaloudlaugh，helpingMistressSimondismountfromthewagon——“well，youhavecomeatlast。FortwohoursIhavebeenwaitingforyou，foryouorderedmetobehereateleven，andnowitisone。Whatwillmyhusbandandmylittleboysayaboutmycominghomesolate？“
“Ibegyourpardon，“saidJeanneMarie，withakindlyvoice。“OurridewasagooddealslowerthanIthought，forthethingswerepackedonlyloosely，andifwehadriddenfastertheywouldeasilyhavebeeninjured。But，Iwillnotdetainyoulonger，andyoushallhavemywashatonce。Thereareagreatmanyclothesthistime，andIhavethereforethrownthemallatonceintothebasket；soyoucanputthebasketrightuponyourwagonandbringthethingsbackinit。Halloa，Simon，andyou，commissioner，takeholdandliftthebasketdown，andcarryitouttothewasherwoman’swagonthatisstandingnearthegate。“
Thetwomenimmediatelyliftedthegreatbasketout，andcarriedittotheopencartwhichstoodthere，inwhichlayarrangedinregularordergreatbundlesofdirtylinen。Nearthegatestoodthesub-