"And the name is that of a veritable ogre," said the baron, spitefully. "But if M. de Maillefort is so objectionable, why do you receive him, madame?" inquired the orphan, hesitatingly. "Ah, my dear child, in society one is obliged to make many concessions, particularly when a person of M. de Maillefort's birth is concerned." Then addressing the baron, she added: "It is impossible to prolong the meal farther, for coffee has been served in the drawing-room." Madame de la Rochaigue arose from the table. The baron, concealing his annoyance as best he could, offered his arm to his ward, and the entire party returned to the drawing-room where M. de Maillefort was waiting. The marquis had so long been accustomed to concealing his love for Madame de Beaumesnil,--the one passion of his life, but one which she alone had divined,--that, on seeing Ernestine, he betrayed none of the interest he felt in her. He remembered, too, not without annoyance, that it would be necessary to appear curt and sarcastic before the orphan, as any sudden change in his manner or language would be sure to arouse the suspicions of the Rochaigues, and, in order to protect Ernestine from them, and, perhaps, even from herself, or, in other words, to carry out her mother's last wishes, he must carefully refrain from exciting the distrust of those around her. M. de Maillefort, who was endowed with remarkably acute powers of perception, noted, with a pang of real anguish, the unpleasant impression his appearance seemed to make upon Ernestine; for the latter, still under the influence of the slanders that had been heaped upon him, had involuntarily shuddered, and averted her gaze from his distorted form. Painful as the feelings of the marquis were, he had the courage to conceal them, and, advancing towards Madame de la Rochaigue, with a smile on his lips and an ironical gleam in his eye, he said: "I am very bold, am I not, my dear baroness? But you know, or rather you are ignorant, that one has friends only to impose upon their good nature, at least unless, like Mlle. de la Rochaigue here," he added, bowing low to that lady, "one has no faults at all, but is nothing more or less than an angel descended from heaven for the edification of the faithful. Then it is even worse, I believe, for when one is perfect, one inspires one's friends with envy, or with admiration, for with many people these two sentiments are one and the same." Then, turning to M. de la Rochaigue, he continued: "Am I not right, baron? I appeal to you who have the good fortune not to wound either by your virtues or your failings." The baron smiled until he showed his long teeth in the most startling fashion, then, trying to conceal his ill-humour, he exclaimed: "Ah, marquis, marquis, always sarcastic, but always charming!" Then seeing that he could not avoid introducing M. de Maillefort to Ernestine, who was watching the hunchback with growing uneasiness, the baron said to his ward: