XVI. DISINTERESTED AFFECTION 162
XVII. A FRIEND IN NEED 171
XVIII. A QUESTION OF IDENTITY 183
XIX. ERNESTINE'S APPEAL 190
XX. AN ALLIANCE OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE 198
XXI. "DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND" 207
XXII. A FINAL VICTORY 216
XXIII. A TEMPTING BAIT 228
XXIV. AN UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER 241
XXV. A SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE 253
XXVI. A CRUCIAL MOMENT 262
XXVII. THE MYSTERY DEEPENS 274
XXVIII. FOILED! 284
XXIX. AN EVENTFUL DAY 294
XXX. THE SIGNING OF THE MARRIAGE CONTRACTS 306
XXXI. THE BARON HAS HIS REVENGE 314
XXXII. CONCLUSION 322
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
"GERALD RUSHED IN LIKE ONE DISTRACTED" _Frontispiece_
"'SHE HAS FAINTED'" 72
"'ENOUGH, MONSIEUR, ENOUGH'" 148
"M. DE MAILLEFORT, ACCOMPANIED BY GERALD, BURST INTO THE ROOM" 290
PRIDE.
CHAPTER I.
MADAME HERBAUT'S PARTY.
Madame Herbaut occupied quite a spacious suite of apartments on the third floor of the same house in which Commander Bernard lived.
The rooms devoted to these Sunday reunions consisted of the dining-room, where the young people danced to the music of the piano; the drawing-room, where there were card-tables for those who did not care to dance, and, lastly, Madame Herbaut's bedroom, where guests could sit and chat without being disturbed by the noise of the dancing, and without disturbing the card-players.
This simply furnished, but comfortable abode indicated that Madame Herbaut--who, by the way, was the widow of a small merchant--was in very comfortable circumstances, though far from rich.
The worthy woman's two daughters found lucrative employment, one in painting on china, the other in copying music,--work which had led to her acquaintance with Herminie, who also copied music when pupils were scarce.
The rooms presented a scene of even more than usual gaiety that evening.
There were about fifteen young girls, none over twenty years of age, all resolved to make the most of Sunday, their only day of rest and pleasure, so richly earned by toil and confinement all the week, either at the counter, in the office, in some gloomy little back shop on the Rue St. Denis or the Rue des Bourdonnais, or perhaps in some _pension_.
Some of these young girls were extremely pretty, and nearly all were dressed with the good taste that characterises the attire of this humble and industrious class of people only in Paris, probably.
These poor girls, being obliged to work hard all the rest of the week, reserved all their little coquettish adornments for their one fete day, the day so impatiently awaited on Saturday, and so deeply regretted on Monday.
As is usual at such reunions, the masculine element in the little assembly presented a much less elegant and stylish appearance than the feminine element. In fact, but for some almost imperceptible shades of difference, most of these young girls were as bright and attractive as if they belonged to the very best society, but this slight superiority on the part of the young girls was soon forgotten, thanks to the cordial good-humour and frank gaiety, tempered with respect, which the young men displayed towards their fair companions.
Instead of being at its best about one o'clock in the morning, as is generally the case with a fashionable ball, this little assembly reached the very zenith of animation and enjoyment about nine o'clock, as the hostess always sent her guests home relentlessly before midnight, so they would be ready to resume work the next morning at the accustomed hour.
And what a dreary time Monday morning was, with the music and laughter of the night before still ringing in your ears, and the prospect of six long days of close confinement and drudgery before you!
But with what growing impatience and transports of joy you watched the approach of the longed-for day.
It comes at last, and then what exuberant happiness!
Oh, rare and modest joys that have never been impaired by satiety!
But Madame Herbaut's guests were not philosophising much that evening.
They were reserving their philosophy for Monday.
These untiring young people were whirling swiftly around the room to the inspiring strains of a lively polka; and such was the magic of the strains that even the ladies and gentlemen in the drawing-room, in spite of their age and the grave preoccupations of Pope Joan and loto,--the only games Madame Herbaut allowed,--moved their heads to and fro and kept time with their feet, in short, executed a sort of antiquated sitting polka, which testified to the skill of the musician at the piano.
And this musician was Herminie.
About a month had passed since her first meeting with Gerald. Had other meetings followed that interview begun under most unpleasant auspices and ending with a gracious forgiveness? We shall know in due time.
This evening, in a dress of some soft, pale blue material that cost, perhaps, twenty sous a yard, and a large bow of ribbon of the same delicate hue in her magnificent golden hair, the duchess was ravishingly beautiful.