‘I see.’ Agathe forbore to add, ‘How very Christian of you.’ Instead she said, ‘That’s most helpful, Sister. If you are quite sure, I needn’t trouble Reverend Mother.’

‘I am quite sure, madame,’ replied Sister Gabrielle, and then as her curiosity got the better of her, she asked, ‘Why do you want her anyway? What’s she done now?’

Madame Sauze did not answer her questions; she simply said, ‘Thank you for your help, Sister.’

Agathe stepped out into the street again and the door was slammed shut behind her. Well, she thought, I have my answer without having to see Reverend Mother. And for that she was very grateful, even though she was no nearer to finding Annette.

When she reached the market she searched the busying crowds for a sight of her, but she saw no sign of the girl she was looking for. She would have to look for her every day until she found her.

Annette had seen her, however. Crouched in a doorway where she had passed the previous night, she watched Agathe move from stall to stall making her purchases. For a moment she was tempted to call out to her, but she stifled the urge. How could she ask Madame Sauze for help? Now that it was clear that she was with child? She shrank back into the doorway as her erstwhile friend passed by, so close that had she reached out she could have touched her.

Moments later the owner of the house came back and with a bellow hauled her to her feet and ejected her from his doorway. She screamed as he flung her onto the stone pavement.

‘And don’t let me find you here again, whore,’ he cried as he tossed her bundle after her. Annette scrambled to her feet and made a grab for the bag, which contained everything she owned in the world. The man gave her another violent push and she crashed back to the ground, making her cry out again with pain and shout, ‘Leave me alone, I ain’t doing no harm!’

It was the voice! Agathe spun round and saw a man standing over a beggar on the ground. You could see violence like this to those on the street any day of the week, but it was the voice that had caught her attention. She stared at the woman, who was trying to stagger to her feet, and gasped as she realised who it was.

‘Annette!’ she cried, and rushed across the road towards her. ‘Annette!’

The girl turned and stared at the woman coming to her aid. ‘Madame…? Oh, madame!’ Tears sprang from her eyes and she collapsed onto the ground once more.

Agathe knelt at her side and reached for her hands. ‘Annette, come along, child, get up.’ With the tears still coursing down her cheeks, Annette struggled to her feet, clutching her precious bundle.

‘People like you deserve what you get,’ growled the man as he watched the two women move away, one limping and leaning on the arm of the other, into the shelter of a side street away from curious eyes. Once they were a safe distance from the still-grumbling owner of the doorway, Agathe paused and turned Annette to look at her.