"Well, in case we need expect nothing from him, I will overcome my false shame, and will write to the Duchess de Lucenay--this lady of whom M. de Saint Remy spoke so often, whose generosity and good heart he so often praised. Yes, the daughter of the Prince de Noirmont. He knew her when she was very small, and he treated her almost as his child, for he was intimately connected with the prince. Madame de Lucenay must have many-acquaintances; she could, perhaps, find us a place." "Doubtless, mamma, but I understand your reserve; you do not know her at all, while my poor father and uncle knew Lord d'Orbigny a little." "Finally, in the case that Madame d'Orbigny can do nothing for us, I will have recourse to a last resource." "What is it, mamma?" "It is a very weak one--a very foolish hope, perhaps; but why not try it? the son of M. de Saint Remy is---" "M. de Saint Remy has a son!" cried Claire, with astonishment. "Yes, my child, he has a son." "He never spoke of him--he never came to Angers." "True, for reasons you cannot know. M. de Saint Remy, having left Paris fifteen years ago, has not seen his son since." "Fifteen years without seeing his father! can it be possible?" "Alas! yes, you see. I tell you that the son of M. de Saint Remy, being well known in the fashionable world, and very rich--" "Very rich! and his father is poor?" "All the fortune of M. de Saint Remy, the son, came from his mother." "But no matter; how can he leave his father--" "His father would accept nothing from him." "Why is that?" "This is once more a question to which I cannot reply, my dear child; but I heard my poor brother say that the generosity of this young man was generally praised. Young and generous, he ought to be good. Thus, learning from me that my husband was the intimate friend of his father, perhaps he might interest himself in procuring us some work or employment; he has so many brilliant and numerous relations, that this would be easy." "And then we could find out from him, perhaps, if M. de Saint Remy, his father, should have left Angers before you wrote to him; that would explain his silence." "I believe that M. de Saint Remy, my child, has no intercourse with his father. In fine, it is only to try." "Unless M. d'Orbigny should answer you in a favorable manner; and I repeat it, I do not know why, but, in spite of myself, I have hope." "But already many days have elapsed, my child, since I have written, and nothing--nothing yet. A letter put in the office before four o'clock in the afternoon, arrives the next morning at Aubiere; five days have now passed since we might have received an answer." "Perhaps he is thinking, before he writes, in what way he can be useful to us." "God hear you, my child!" "It appears very plain to me, mamma, if he could do nothing for us, he would have informed you at once." "Unless he will do nothing at all."