"Of Mlle. Herminie?" "Yes, mademoiselle. It was in relation to a five hundred franc note that she returned to the baroness. Louis, one of the footmen, heard the whole conversation through the door of the reception-room." "Madame de la Rochaigue knows Herminie?" cried Ernestine, whose surprise and curiosity were increased by each word the governess uttered. "And what is this about a five hundred franc note?" "Why, it seems that this honest young girl--I told you that Madame Herbaut was exceedingly particular in the selection of her guests--this honest young girl returned the five hundred francs because she said she had already been paid by the countess." "What countess?" "Why, mademoiselle's mother." "My mother paid Herminie? And for what?" "Ah, yes, it is true that mademoiselle is not aware--I suppose no one has told mademoiselle for fear of making her still more sad." "Has not told me what? In Heaven's name, speak!" "Why, the late countess suffered so much towards the last, that the physicians, at their wit's end, thought that music might ameliorate her sufferings, at least to some extent." "Great Heaven! I can not believe it. Go on, go on." "So they sent for a young musician, and this young musician was Herminie!" "Herminie?" "Yes, mademoiselle. For ten days or a fortnight before Madame la comtesse died, mademoiselle came to play and sing to her every day, and they say it quieted the countess very much, but unfortunately it was too late." While Ernestine was drying the tears these sad details, hitherto unknown to her, had brought to her eyes, Madame Laine continued: "It seems that, after your mother's death, the baroness, thinking Mlle. Herminie had not been paid, sent her five hundred francs, but this noble-hearted young girl brought the money back and declared that the countess owed her nothing." "She saw my dying mother! She assuaged her sufferings," thought Ernestine, with inexpressible emotion. "Ah, how I long to tell her that I am the daughter of the lady she loved, for how could any one know my mother without loving her?" Then starting violently at another recollection, the young girl said to herself: "But I remember now, that, when I told her my name was Ernestine, the coincidence seemed to strike her, and she seemed to be deeply moved when she said that a lady, for whom she had a profound regard, had a daughter who was also named Ernestine. So my mother must have talked to her about me, and if my mother talked to her as confidentially as that, my mother must have loved her; so I, too, have reason to love her. In fact, it is my bounden duty. My brain whirls, my heart overflows. This is too much happiness. I can hardly believe it." Dashing away her tears, Ernestine turned to her governess and asked: "But how did the steward ascertain Mlle. Herminie's address."