The quadrille having ended, several young ladies returned to their seats near Mlle. de Beaumesnil; so Gerald rose, bowed to the orphan, and, feeling both ill and fatigued, immediately left the ball-room.
Madame de Senneterre, delighted by the favourable indications which she, as well as Madame de la Rochaigue, had observed, whispered to the baroness:
"Try to find out what effect Gerald has produced."
So Madame de la Rochaigue, leaning towards Mlle. de Beaumesnil, said to her:
"Ah, my dear child, is he not charming?"
"No one could be more agreeable or evince more noble and refined feelings."
"Then, my dear child, you are the Duchesse de Senneterre. At least, it depends solely upon yourself. Come, say yes, here and now!"
"You embarrass me very much, madame," responded Ernestine, casting down her eyes.
"Oh, yes, I understand," replied Madame de la Rochaigue, thinking that maidenly reserve alone prevented Ernestine from confessing that she wished to marry Gerald.
"Well, my dear, he has quite turned her head, has he not?" asked Madame de Senneterre, nudging the baroness slightly with her elbow.
"Completely, completely, my dear duchess. But give me your arm, and let us go and find M. de Senneterre, to tell him of his success."
"The dear child is ours at last, and Gerald will be the largest landowner in France. As for our little private compact, my dear baroness," added Madame de Senneterre, in even more subdued tones, "I scarcely need assure you that it shall be carried out with scrupulous exactitude. I have said nothing to my son about it, understand, but I will vouch for him."
"We will not talk of that now, my dear duchess; but as Madame de Mirecourt has been so exceedingly kind, don't you think it would be in excellent taste for him--"
"Oh, that is understood, of course," said Madame de Senneterre, hastily interrupting the baroness. "Nothing could be more just, I am sure. But let us make haste and find Gerald. Do you see him anywhere?"
"No, my dear duchess, but he is in the gallery, doubtless. Come, let us look for him there."
Then turning to Ernestine, Madame de la Rochaigue said:
"We shall leave you only for a moment, my dear child. We are merely going to make some one as happy as a king."
And without waiting for any reply from Ernestine, Madame de la Rochaigue gave her arm to the duchess, and the two ladies hastened towards the gallery.
M. de Maillefort, who seemed to have noted the departure of the two ladies, now approached Ernestine, and, availing himself of one of the privileges accorded a man of his years, took the seat beside the young girl which Madame de la Rochaigue had just vacated.
CHAPTER XIV.
VILLAINY UNMASKED.
As M. de Maillefort seated himself beside Ernestine, he remarked, with a smile:
"So you are no longer afraid of me, I see."
"Ah, monsieur," replied the girl, "I am so thankful for this opportunity to thank you--"
"For my discretion? That will stand any test, I assure you. I give you my word that no one knows or ever will know that I met you at the home of the very best and noblest young woman I know."
"Is she not, monsieur? But if I know Herminie, monsieur, it is to you that I am indebted for the honour."
"To me?"
"You remember, perhaps, that one evening in Mlle. Helena's presence you said some very hard, but alas! only too true things about me."
"Yes, my poor child. I knew how much you disliked me. I could never find an opportunity to see you alone, and, though I was watching over you, it was necessary, imperatively necessary, that your eyes should be opened, and that you should understand the object of the fulsome flattery of which you might eventually become the dupe."
"Ah, well, monsieur, your words did open my eyes, and I saw very plainly that those around me were deceiving me, and that I was already on the verge of becoming a victim to their shameful flattery. I made a resolve then and there, and, in order to discover the truth concerning myself, I arranged with my governess to attend a little dancing party given by one of her friends, where I was to be introduced as a poor orphan relative of hers."
"And at this party you met Herminie. She told me so. I understand everything now. So you wished to know your own intrinsic worth without your fortune, eh?"
"Yes, monsieur, and the test was a very painful though profitable one.
It has taught me among other things to appreciate the value and the sincerity of the attentions showered upon me this evening," she added, meaningly.
And as the hunchback, hardly able to repress his emotion, gazed at Ernestine in silence, deeply touched by the strength of character this young and defenceless girl had displayed, she asked, timidly:
"Can you blame me, monsieur?"
"Blame you, my poor child, no, no. The only blame attaches to the unscrupulous persons whose baseness almost compelled you to take such a step--a step I not only approve but admire, for you yourself do not realise how much courage and nobility of character you evinced."
A rather elderly man, approaching the divan upon which M. de Maillefort was seated, leaned over the back of it, and said to the hunchback, in a low tone:
"My dear marquis, Morainville and Hauterive are at your service. They are standing by the window opposite you."
"Very well, my dear friend. A thousand thanks for your kindness and theirs! You have informed them of the condition of affairs, have you not?"
"Fully."
"And they make no objection?"
"How could they in a case like this?"
"Then all is well," responded the marquis.
Then turning to Mlle. de Beaumesnil, he asked:
"For which quadrille did M. de Mornand engage you?"
"For the next, monsieur," replied Ernestine, much surprised at the question.
"You hear, my friend," said M. de Maillefort to the gentleman who had just spoken to him.
"Very well, my dear marquis."
And M. de Maillefort's friend, after having made quite a detour, rejoined Messrs. Morainville and d'Hauterive, and said a few words to which both gave a nod of assent.