Madame de la Rochaigue did not perceive their intention until the door closed behind them, but their departure suited her perfectly. The presence of other persons would prevent the explanation she considered it absolutely necessary to have with the marquis, for she was too shrewd and too well versed in the ways of the world not to have felt certain, as she had said to her husband, that the marquis, in thus renewing their acquaintance after a long interruption, had been actuated by a desire to meet the heiress, concerning whom, consequently, he must have some secret designs. The hunchback's love for Madame de Beaumesnil having been suspected by no one, and his last interview with the dying countess being likewise a secret, Madame de la Rochaigue did not and could not suspect the solicitude the marquis felt concerning Ernestine. But wishing to ascertain the designs of the hunchback, so as to circumvent them if they interfered with her own, Madame de la Rochaigue abruptly changed the subject as soon as the door had closed upon the orphan, by saying: "Well, marquis, what do you think of Mlle. de Beaumesnil?" "I think her very generous." "Very generous, marquis? What do you mean by that?" "Why, with her fortune, your ward would have a perfect right to be as ugly and humpbacked as I am. But does she really possess many admirable traits of character?" "I have known her so short a time, I scarcely know how to answer you." "Why this reticence? You must feel sure that I did not come to ask your ward's hand in marriage." "Who knows?" retorted the baroness, laughing. "I know, and I have told you." "Seriously, marquis, I am positive that at this very moment a hundred matrimonial projects have already been formed--" "Against Mlle. de Beaumesnil?" "'Against' is very suggestive. But one moment, marquis. I wish to be perfectly frank with you." "Indeed!" exclaimed the hunchback, in mocking surprise. "Ah, well, so do I. Come, my dear baroness, let us have this little treat in the way of sincerity, which is such a rare thing, alas!" And M. de Maillefort drew his chair nearer the sofa on which the baroness was seated. CHAPTER XXII. AN ORGY OF SINCERITY. After a moment's silence, Madame de la Rochaigue, with a penetrating glance at M. de Maillefort, said: "Marquis, I understand you." "Bah!" "Understand you perfectly." "You do everything to perfection, so this does not surprise me. But let me hear the proofs of these surprising powers of penetration on your part." "For fear of harrowing my feelings too much, I will not count the number of years during which you never set foot in my house, and now you suddenly return with a truly flattering eagerness. So, being a sensible woman, and not a mere bundle of conceit, I say to myself--" "Come, baroness, what is it you say to yourself?"