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One detail alone in the midst of this vague and useless information was of interest。 For the last few months Monsieur Jacques Bricheteau had received a voluminous number of letters the postage on which indicated that they came from foreign parts； but； in spite of his desires； the worthy concierge had never； he said； been able to decipher the post…mark。 Thus this detail； which might have been very useful to me became for the moment absolutely worthless。
I returned home； persuading myself that a pathetic letter addressed to the refractory Bricheteau would induce him to receive me。 Mingling with my entreaties the touch of a threat； I let him know that I was firmly resolved at all costs to get to the bottom of the mystery which weighed upon my life； the secret of which he evidently knew。 The next morning； before nine o'clock； I went to his house； only to learn that after paying the rent to the end of his term； he had packed up his furniture and left the house in the early morning； without the porter being able to discover from the men who removed his property （well… paid to keep silence； no doubt） where they were ordered to carry it。 These men being strangers in the quarter； it was quite impossible to discover them later。
I felt； however； that I still had a clue to him； through the organ at Saint…Louis； and the following Sunday after high mass I posted myself as before at the door of the organ loft； determined not to let go of the sphinx until I had made him speak。 But here again； disappointment！ Monsieur Jacques Bricheteau's place was taken by a pupil。 The same thing happened on the three following Sundays。 On the fourth； I accosted the pupil and asked him if the master were ill。
〃No； monsieur；〃 he replied。 〃Monsieur Bricheteau has asked for leave of absence。 He will be absent for some time； I believe on business。〃
〃Where； then； can I write to him？〃
〃I don't rightly know； but I think you had better address your letter to his house； not far from here； quai de Bethune。〃
〃But he has moved； didn't you know it？〃
〃No； indeed； where does he live now？〃
This was poor luck； to ask information of a man who asked it of me when I questioned him。 As if to put be quite beside myself while I was making these inquiries； I saw that damned dwarf in the distance evidently laughing at me。
Happily for my patience and my curiosity； which； under the pressure of all this opposition was growing terrible； a certain amount of light was given me。 A few days after my last discomfiture； a letter reached me bearing the post…mark Stockholm； Sweden； which address did not surprise me because； while in Rome； I had been honored by the friendship of Thorwaldsen； the great Swedish sculptor； and I had often met in his studio many of his compatriots。 Probably； therefore； this letter conveyed an order from one of them； sent through Thorwaldsen。 But； on opening the letter what was my amazement； and my emotion； in presence of its opening words：
Monsieur my Son；
The letter was long。 I had no patience to read it until I knew the name I bore。 I turned to the signature； again my disappointment was completethere was no name！
Monsieur my Son；
said my anonymous father；
I do not regret that by your passionate insistence on knowing the secret of your birth； you have forced the person who has watched over you from childhood to come here to confer with me as to the course your vehement and dangerous curiosity requires us to pursue。
For some time past； I have entertained a thought which I bring to maturity to…day； the execution of which could have been more satisfactorily settled by word of mouth than it can now be by correspondence。
Immediately after your birth； which cost your mother's life； being forced to expatriate myself； I made in a foreign country a noble fortune； and I occupy in the ministry of that country an eminent position。 I foresee the moment when； free to restore to you my name； I shall also be able to secure to you the inheritance of my titles and the position to which I have attained。
But； to reach that height； the reputation you have； I am told； acquired in art is not a sufficient recommendation。 It is my wish that you should enter political life； and in that career； under the present institutions of France； there are not two ways of becoming a man of distinction： you must begin by being made a deputy。 I know that you are not yet of the legal age； and also that you do not possess the property qualification。 But； in another year you will be thirty years old； and that is just the necessary time required by law to be a land…owner before becoming a candidate for election。
To…morrow； therefore； you can present yourself to Mongenod Bros。； bankers； rue de la Victoire。 A sum of two hundred and fifty thousand francs will be paid to you； this you must immediately employ in the purchase of real estate； applying part of the surplus to obtain an interest in some newspaper which； when the right time comes； will support your candidacy； and the rest in another expense I shall presently explain to you。
Your political aptitude is guaranteed to me by the person who； with a disinterested zeal for which I shall ever be grateful； has watched over you since you were abandoned。 For some time past he has secretly followed you and listened to you； and he is certain that you will make yourself a dignified position in the Chamber。 Your opinions of ardent yet moderate liberalism please me； without being aware of it； you have very cleverly played into my game。 I cannot as yet tell you the place of your probable election。 The secret power which is preparing for that event is all the more certain to succeed because its plans are pursued quietly and for the present in the shade。 But success will be greatly assisted by the execution of a work which I shall now propose to you； requesting you to accept its apparent strangeness without surprise or comment。
For the time being you must continue to be a sculptor； and with the talents of which you have already given proofs； I wish you to make a statue of Saint…Ursula。 That is a subject which does not lack either interest or poesy。 Saint…Ursula； virgin and martyr； was； as is generally believed； a daughter of prince of Great Britain。 Becoming the abbess of a convent of unmarried women； who were called with popular naivete the Eleven Thousand Virgins； she was martyred by the Huns in the fifth century； later； she was patroness of the order of the Ursulines； to which she gave its name； and she was also patroness of the famous house of Sorbonne。 An able artist like yourself could； it seems to me； make much of these details。
Without knowing the locality of which you will be made the representative； it is expedient that you should from the present moment； make known your political opinions and your intention of becoming a candidate for election。 But I cannot too strongly insist on your keeping secret the communication now made to you； at any rate as much as your patience will allow。 Leave my agent in peace； and await the slow and quiet development of the brilliant future