"And at this party you met Herminie. She told me so. I understand everything now. So you wished to know your own intrinsic worth without your fortune, eh?" "Yes, monsieur, and the test was a very painful though profitable one. It has taught me among other things to appreciate the value and the sincerity of the attentions showered upon me this evening," she added, meaningly. And as the hunchback, hardly able to repress his emotion, gazed at Ernestine in silence, deeply touched by the strength of character this young and defenceless girl had displayed, she asked, timidly: "Can you blame me, monsieur?" "Blame you, my poor child, no, no. The only blame attaches to the unscrupulous persons whose baseness almost compelled you to take such a step--a step I not only approve but admire, for you yourself do not realise how much courage and nobility of character you evinced." A rather elderly man, approaching the divan upon which M. de Maillefort was seated, leaned over the back of it, and said to the hunchback, in a low tone: "My dear marquis, Morainville and Hauterive are at your service. They are standing by the window opposite you." "Very well, my dear friend. A thousand thanks for your kindness and theirs! You have informed them of the condition of affairs, have you not?" "Fully." "And they make no objection?" "How could they in a case like this?" "Then all is well," responded the marquis. Then turning to Mlle. de Beaumesnil, he asked: "For which quadrille did M. de Mornand engage you?" "For the next, monsieur," replied Ernestine, much surprised at the question. "You hear, my friend," said M. de Maillefort to the gentleman who had just spoken to him. "Very well, my dear marquis." And M. de Maillefort's friend, after having made quite a detour, rejoined Messrs. Morainville and d'Hauterive, and said a few words to which both gave a nod of assent. "My dear child," remarked the marquis, again turning to Mlle. de Beaumesnil, "I have been watching over you for some time past without appearing to do so, for though you never saw me at your mother's house during your childhood, I was one of your mother's friends--most devoted friends." "Ah, monsieur, I ought to have mistrusted that sooner, for you have been so grossly maligned to me." "That was very natural under the circumstances. Now, a word or two upon a more important matter. M. de la Rochaigue has often spoken of M. de Mornand as a suitor for your hand, has he not? and has also assured you that you could not make a better choice?" "Yes, monsieur." "My poor child!" said the marquis, compassionately; then he continued, in his usual sarcastic tone: "And Mlle. Helena, in her turn, saintly, devout creature that she is, has said the very same thing about M. Celestin de Macreuse, another extremely devout and saintly personage."