"In the first place, how can you arrange to have the disposal of your evening? The baron and baroness and Mlle. Helena never leave you." "Oh, I can manage that very easily. To-morrow morning I will say that I passed a very uncomfortable night, and that I am not feeling at all well. I will remain in my room all day, and to-morrow evening you will go to the family and tell them that I am asleep and don't wish to be disturbed by anybody. My guardian and his family respect my slightest wish so abjectly that they will not dare to disturb my slumbers," added Mlle. de Beaumesnil, with mingled sadness and disdain. "Oh, mademoiselle is perfectly right about that. No one would dare to contradict or oppose mademoiselle in anything. If mademoiselle should tell M. le baron to stand on his head, he would do it without a word." "Oh, yes, they are certainly the most considerate of relatives, so full of tenderness and dignity," replied Ernestine, with a rather peculiar expression. "Ah, well, you see, then, that it will be an easy matter for me to secure an evening to myself." "Yes, mademoiselle, but how shall we manage to get out of the house?" "Get out of the house?" "Yes. I mean without meeting any one on the stairway, or being seen by the concierge." "That is your lookout. I depend upon you to devise a means of doing that." "Oh, it is very easy to say devise a means, mademoiselle, but--" "I foresaw this difficulty, of course, but I said to myself, 'My dear Laine is very clever. She will assist me in this.'" "Heaven knows I would be only too glad to, mademoiselle, but I really do not see--" "Put on your thinking-cap. I have never used any but the main stairway, but are there no servants' stairways leading from my apartments?" "Of course, mademoiselle. There are two such staircases, but you would run a great risk of meeting the servants if you used either of them; that is," added the governess, thoughtfully,--"that is unless you should choose the time that they are at dinner, about eight o'clock, for example." "Your idea is an admirable one." "Mademoiselle should not rejoice too soon." "Why?" "Mademoiselle will still have to pass the porter's lodge, and he is a regular Cerberus, for ever on the watch." "That is true, we shall have to think of some other way." "I am trying, mademoiselle, but it's no easy matter, I assure you." "But not impossible, it seems to me." "Ah, I have an idea, mademoiselle!" exclaimed the governess, suddenly, after reflecting a moment. "Let me hear it." "Excuse me, mademoiselle, but I'm not sure that it is at all feasible yet. Let me go and see. I'll be back in a moment." And the governess darted out of the room. The orphan was left alone. "I was right," she murmured, with an expression of bitter disgust. "This woman has a base and mercenary nature, like so many others, but these very failings will ensure me her submission, and, above all, her discretion." In a few minutes the governess returned, radiant.