"You see what a dangerous flatterer M. de la Rochaigue is, my dear child," remarked the baroness. "He is quite capable of imbuing you with a taste for politics, too." "Me? Oh, I have no fear of that," responded Ernestine, smiling. "You may laugh at me as much as you like, my dear," the baron said to his wife; "but I do assert that I perceive in our dear ward a thoughtfulness, a self-control, and a power of discrimination remarkable in one of her years, to say nothing of the fact that she strikingly resembles the portrait of the beautiful and famous Duchesse de Longueville, who exerted such a marvellous influence in politics under the Fronde." "Well, well, this is really too much," exclaimed the baroness, interrupting her husband with a fresh outburst of merriment. The orphan, who had suddenly become thoughtful, did not join in this gaiety. She was thinking how very strange it was that within the last two hours three persons had, in turn, discovered that she was so singularly adapted to fill three such entirely different roles, viz.: That of a devotee, that of a woman of fashion, and that of a female politician. The conversation was interrupted by the sound of carriage-wheels in the courtyard below. "Haven't you given orders that you are not at home this evening?" inquired the baron, turning to his wife. "No, but I am expecting no one,--that is, no one but Madame de Mirecourt, who, you know, occasionally drops in for a few minutes on her way to some ball or reception." "Shall you see her in case she does?" "If it will not be disagreeable to you, and if you will allow me to receive her in your drawing-room," said the baroness, turning to Ernestine. "She is a very charming woman." "Do exactly as you please, madame," replied Ernestine, cordially. "Show the visitor into Mlle. de Beaumesnil's drawing-room," the baroness said to one of the servants. The man withdrew, but returned a moment afterwards to say: "I showed the visitor into mademoiselle's drawing-room as madame ordered, but it is not Madame de Mirecourt." "Who is it, then?" "M. le Marquis de Maillefort, madame." "That detestable man!" exclaimed the baron. "A visit at this hour is an inexcusable familiarity on his part." The baroness motioned to her husband to be more guarded before the servants, then whispered to Ernestine, who seemed surprised at this incident: "M. de la Rochaigue does not like M. de Maillefort, who is really one of the most spiteful and mischief-making hunchbacks imaginable." "A positive devil!" added Helena. "It seems to me that I have heard my mother speak of a M. de Maillefort," remarked Ernestine, thoughtfully. "That is more than likely, my dearest child," replied the baroness, smiling, "though no one ever speaks of M. de Maillefort as one's good angel." "I do not recollect to have heard her say anything either good or bad about M. de Maillefort," answered the orphan. "I merely remember the name."