But another and more certain means suggested
itself. He had been led to renew his intercourse with the Seguins, of
whom he had for a time lost sight; and, much to his surprise, he had
found Valentine's former maid, Celeste, in the Avenue d'Antin once more.
Through this woman, he thought, he might reach La Couteau direct.
The renewal of the intercourse between the Froments and the Seguins was
due to a very happy chance. Mathieu's son Ambroise, on leaving college,
had entered the employment of an uncle of Seguin's, Thomas du Hordel, one
of the wealthiest commission merchants in Paris; and this old man, who,
despite his years, remained very sturdy, and still directed his business
with all the fire of youth, had conceived a growing fondness for
Ambroise, who had great mental endowments and a real genius for commerce.
Du Hordel's own children had consisted of two daughters, one of whom had
died young, while the other had married a madman, who had lodged a bullet
in his head and had left her childless and crazy like himself. This
partially explained the deep grandfatherly interest which Du Hordel took
in young Ambroise, who was the handsomest of all the Froments, with a
clear complexion, large black eyes, brown hair that curled naturally, and
manners of much refinement and elegance.
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