"Why, can't you see?" exclaimed Ernestine, joyously. "M. Olivier has positively refused to marry Mlle. de Beaumesnil, the rich heiress, has he not?"
"Unquestionably," said the baron; "still, I don't understand--"
"But when M. Olivier discovers who I really am, how can he feel any fear of being accused of mercenary motives in marrying me, when he had positively refused to accept the proffered hand of the richest heiress in France?"
"Or, in other words, an income of over three million francs," exclaimed the baron, interrupting his ward. "That is true. The idea is an excellent one. I congratulate you upon it, M. le marquis, and I say, with you, that even if M. Olivier were a thousand times more proud and sensitive, he could not hold out against this argument, viz.: 'You positively refused to accept the three million francs when they were offered you, so your motives are necessarily above suspicion.'"
"And it is impossible for M. Olivier to feel any scruples under these circumstances, do you not think so, monsieur?"
"Most assuredly I do, my dear ward. But this revelation will have to be made to M. Olivier sooner or later, I suppose."
"Of course, and I will attend to it," replied the marquis. "I have a plan. We will talk that over together, by and by, baron, that and certain business matters which young girls understand very little about.
Am I not right, my child?" added the marquis, with a smile, turning to Ernestine.
"Perfectly right," answered Mlle. de Beanmesnil, "and whatever you and my guardian may decide, I agree to in advance."
"I need not say, my dear baron, that we must maintain the utmost secrecy in relation to all this until the signing of the marriage contract, which I have my reasons for desiring should precede the publishing of the banns. Day after to-morrow will not be too soon, I suppose. What do you think about it, Ernestine?"
"You can guess my reply, monsieur," answered the young girl, blushing and smiling.
Then she added, hastily:
"But mine will not be the only contract to sign. There is another, isn't there, Herminie?"
"That is for M. de Maillefort to decide," replied Herminie, blushingly.
"I approve most decidedly; but who is to attend to all this rather troublesome business?"
"You, of course, M. de Maillefort. You are so good and kind!" cried Ernestine.
"Besides, have you not proved that nothing is impossible to you?" added Herminie.
"Oh, as for the impossibilities achieved, when I think of the scene at your home this morning, you, my dear child, are the one who deserves praise, not I."
On hearing these words, M. de la Rochaigue, who had seemed to be hardly aware of Herminie's presence before, turned to her, and said:
"Pardon me, my dear young lady; my attention has been so engrossed by what has just occurred that--"
"M. de la Rochaigue," said Ernestine, taking Herminie by the hand, "I wish to present to you my dearest friend, or, rather, my sister, for no two sisters could love each other more devotedly than we do."
"But," said the baron, greatly surprised, "if I am not very much mistaken, mademoiselle--mademoiselle is the music teacher we selected for you on account of the extreme delicacy of her conduct in relation to a perfectly just claim upon the Beaumesnil estate."
"You still have some very remarkable things to learn in relation to Mlle. Herminie, my dear baron," said the marquis.
"Indeed? And what are they, may I ask?"
"In the conversation which you and I must have, presently, I will answer your question fully; but now I am sure it will suffice you to know that your ward has placed her friendship as wisely as her love; for I can truly say that the person who would select M. Olivier Raymond for a husband would be certain to select Mlle. Herminie for a friend."
"M. de Maillefort is right," said Mlle. de Beaumesnil, twining her arm affectionately about her friend's waist; "both these greatest blessings came to me the same evening at Madame Herbaut's little party."
"Madame Herbaut's little party!" repeated the baron, opening his eyes wide, in astonishment, "What Madame Herbaut?"
"My dear child, you should be generous, and not give M. de la Rochaigue any more enigmas to solve this evening," said the hunchback.
"I declare myself utterly incapable of solving them," exclaimed the baron. "My poor brain feels as confused and bewildered as if I had just made a balloon ascension."
"Don't be alarmed, baron," said M. de Maillefort, laughing. "I shall spare your imagination any further flights by soon telling you all there is to tell."
"In that case we will leave you," said Ernestine, smiling. Then she added:
"But I feel it my duty to warn you before I go that Herminie and I have entered into a conspiracy, M. de la Rochaigue."
"And what is this conspiracy, young ladies?"
"As it is so late, and as I should certainly become quite crazed with joy if I were left entirely alone with my happiness, Herminie has consented to remain with me until to-morrow morning. We shall dine tete-a-tete, and in the happiest of moods, as you may imagine."
"An admirable arrangement, young ladies, for Madame de la Rochaigue and I have an engagement to dine out this evening," said the baron; "so a pleasant evening to you."
"I shall see you both again to-morrow," said M. de Maillefort. "There are some details which I am sure you will enjoy, that we must discuss together."
The two girls, radiant with delight, returned to Ernestine's apartments, and, after a daintily served dinner,--which they scarcely touched, so absorbed were they in their new-found joy and happiness,--they retired to Ernestine's chamber, to again talk over the strange vicissitudes of their love affairs and of their friendship.
In about a quarter of an hour they were, to their great regret, interrupted by Madame Laine, who entered the room after having rapped in a deprecating manner.
"What do you want, my dear Laine?" asked Ernestine, a trifle impatiently.
"I have a favour to ask of mademoiselle."
"What is it?"
"Mademoiselle is perhaps aware that M. le baron and madame are dining out this evening, and that they will not return home until late."
"Yes, what of it?"
"Mlle. Helena, wishing the servants to profit by the leisure evening monsieur's and madame's absence affords them, secured three loges at the Gaite Theatre this morning, where they are playing 'The Maccabees,' a drama founded on an episode in Bible history."
"And you, too, wish to go, I suppose, my dear Laine?"
"If mademoiselle will not need me until it is time for her to retire."
"You can have the entire evening, my dear Laine, and take Therese with you, if you choose."
"But what if mademoiselle should need something before our return?"
"Oh, I shall not need anything. Mlle. Herminie and I will wait on each other. Go, and enjoy yourself, by all means, my dear Laine, and be sure to take Therese with you."
"Mademoiselle is very kind. I thank her a thousand times. If mademoiselle should need anything, she has only to ring, however, for Mlle. Helena told Placide to come down so as to be ready to answer mademoiselle's bell if she rang."
"Very well, I will ring for her if I want anything. Good night, my dear Laine."