"Yes, mademoiselle, I saw the old snake hanging around again yesterday," continued the portress, "and when I planted myself in the doorway to watch him, he sneered at me as he passed, but I just said to myself: 'Sneer away, you old viper. You'll laugh on the other side of your mouth one of these days.'" "I cannot help encountering this man on the street sometimes," said Herminie, "for he seems to be always trying to put himself in my way; but I needn't tell you, Madame Moufflon, that he must never be admitted to the house on any pretext whatever." "Oh, you needn't worry about that, mademoiselle, he knows pretty well who he has to deal with by this time." "But I forgot to mention that a young lady will probably call this morning, too, Madame Moufflon." "Very well. But if M. Olivier should be here when the young lady calls, what then? Shall I admit her just the same?" "Certainly." "Oh, I never told you, did I, mademoiselle, that M. Bouffard, who was so rough to you, but who has been as gentle as a lamb ever since you began giving his daughter lessons, is always praising you to the skies now. He said to me only the other day, 'There are plenty of rosieres who are not half as good and modest as Mlle. Herminie. She is a young lady who--'" But a peal of the door-bell put a sudden end to these eulogiums. "It is M. Olivier, I expect," said Herminie. "Show him in, please, Madame Moufflon." And a minute afterwards that worthy dame ushered in Olivier, and Herminie found herself alone with Gerald's intimate friend. CHAPTER VI. A DELICATE MISSION. The vague uneasiness which Herminie had felt was greatly increased at the sight of Olivier, for the young man looked unusually grave. The duchess even fancied that he avoided her gaze, as if embarrassed, and this embarrassment on his part was made still more apparent by his silence and evident reluctance to explain the object of his visit. Herminie was the first to break this silence. "You wrote, M. Olivier, that you wished to see me about a very important matter," she said, at last. "Very important, mademoiselle." "I judge so from your manner. What have you to tell me?" "It concerns Gerald, mademoiselle." "Great Heavens! What misfortune has befallen him?" exclaimed the duchess, much frightened. "None, mademoiselle. I left him only a few minutes ago." Herminie, thus reassured, felt deeply incensed with herself for her unguarded exclamation, and, blushing deeply, she said to Olivier: "I trust you will not misinterpret--" But the natural frankness of her character asserted itself, and she said, with quiet dignity: