Faithful to the promise made to Mlle. Herbaut, the kind-hearted fellow had come to ask Ernestine to dance the next quadrille with him, so, after having greeted Herminie in the most cordial and respectful manner, he bowed low before Ernestine, with the stereotyped phrase: "Will mademoiselle do me the honour to dance the next quadrille with me." CHAPTER III. A BOLD QUESTION. Mlle. de Beaumesnil was doubly surprised, as the invitation must have been premeditated, inasmuch as she was not then in the ball-room, so having no answer ready in her astonishment, Herminie came to her assistance by saying gaily to the young soldier: "I accept your invitation in mademoiselle's name, M. Olivier, for she is quite capable of depriving herself of the pleasure of dancing merely to keep me company." "As mademoiselle has accepted for me," added Ernestine, smiling, "I can but follow her example." Olivier bowed again, and turning to Herminie remarked: "Unfortunately I arrived very late this evening, mademoiselle, for I found you had not only ceased playing, but had also abandoned all idea of dancing." "You did come very late, M. Olivier, for I recollect seeing you come in at the conclusion of the last polka I played." "Alas! mademoiselle, you see in me a victim of my own patience and another's unpunctuality. I was waiting for a friend who intended to come with me." Herminie blushed slightly and averted her eyes. "But this friend did not come," Olivier added. "Possibly he is ill, M. Olivier," said the duchess, with feigned indifference. "No, mademoiselle, he is perfectly well, for I saw him only a few hours ago, but I think his mother must have detained him, for the kind-hearted fellow never opposes her in anything." The words seemed to dispel the slight cloud which had gathered, now and then, on the brow of the duchess during the evening, and she answered, gaily: "Then you do very wrong to blame your friend if he has such a good excuse for his absence, M. Olivier." "I am not blaming him in the least, Mlle. Herminie. I am only pitying him for not having come, and pitying myself for arriving so late, as I might, perhaps, have had the pleasure of dancing with mademoiselle sooner," added Olivier, addressing Mlle. de Beaumesnil, so she would not feel that she was left out of the conversation. Suddenly the words, "Take your places!" resounded through the room, accompanied by a few chords on the piano. "I am at your service, mademoiselle," said Olivier, offering his arm to Ernestine. The girl arose to accompany Olivier, but Herminie caught her by the hand, and whispered: "One moment, Ernestine, let me arrange your sash. It needs pinning."