As Madame de la Rochaigue was thus consoling the orphan, a deprecating rap was heard at the door. "Who is it?" inquired the baroness. "Mlle. de Beaumesnil's majordomo, who solicits the honour of throwing himself at her feet." Ernestine evinced so much surprise that the baroness said, smilingly: "It is only one of M. de la Rochaigue's jokes. It is he who is at the door." Mlle. de Beaumesnil also tried to smile as the baroness said, in a loud voice: "Come in, M. majordomo, come in!" Whereupon the baron entered, showing his long teeth more than ever in the broad smile his joke had inspired. Approaching Ernestine with great deference, he bowed low before her and even kissed her hand, saying as he did so: "Is my charming ward still content with me? Is anything lacking for her comfort? Does she find her establishment on a suitable footing? Has she discovered any inconveniences in her apartments? Is she satisfied with her servants?" "There is nothing with which I can find the slightest fault," answered Ernestine; "quite the contrary, indeed, for this magnificent suite of rooms, exclusively for my use, is--" "Nothing can be too handsome or too luxurious for the richest heiress in France," interrupted the baron, in his most peremptory tones. "I am deeply gratified and touched by the affectionate welcome I have received from your family," said Ernestine; "and I assure you that everything else is of very little importance to me." Just then the folding doors opened, and the butler announced, in a loud voice: "Mademoiselle is served." CHAPTER XXI. THE HUNCHBACK MEETS THE HEIRESS. The baron offered his arm to Ernestine, and conducted her into the dining-room. Helena came in a few minutes afterwards, a trifle late by reason of having despatched a letter to Abbe Ledoux, announcing her plans for the morrow. During the entire repast Ernestine was the object of the most obsequious attentions, not only from the baron and his wife and sister, but also from the servants, who were as deeply impressed as their employers by the magical power of those words, "the richest heiress in France." Towards the end of the meal, the baron, with the most careless air imaginable, remarked to Mlle. de Beaumesnil: "Well, my dear ward, as you have now recovered from the fatigue of your journey, it seems to me you ought to go out to-morrow and amuse yourself a little." "Helena and I think so, too," replied Madame de la Rochaigue, "so your sister is going to take Ernestine to church to-morrow morning. In the afternoon, Mlle. Palmyre and Mlle. Barenne will come with some dresses and hats I ordered yesterday for our dear child, and day after to-morrow Ernestine and I are going for a drive." "Capital, capital!" exclaimed the baron. "I see that to-morrow and the day after will be fully occupied, but I think it is hardly fair for me to be so entirely left out, so I beg to have my turn on the day following. Will you grant my request?"