"Just hear this wheedler with her 'Nothing is impossible to you, M. de Maillefort,'" said the marquis, smiling. Then he added with a sigh: "Ah, my dear child, if you knew what hard things vanity and selfishness are to fight! And those two words describe Madame de Senneterre exactly. But though I am not the great necromancer you say, I shall have to devise some way of taming this two-headed monster, I suppose." "Ah, if you can ever accomplish that feat, monsieur," said Herminie, "my whole life--" "I count upon that, my child. Yes, I hope and trust that you will love me during your whole life, even if I should fail in what I am about to undertake, for in that case I believe I should be quite as unhappy as you are, and stand in almost equal need of consolation. Now it is your turn, my dear Ernestine!" "It seems to me that my prospects are even gloomier than Herminie's," said Mlle. de Beaumesnil, sadly. "I don't know about that, but I must warn you, my poor child, that I can do nothing for you until after I have satisfied myself beyond a doubt of M. Olivier Raymond's worth." "Why, doesn't what you already know satisfy you, M. de Maillefort?" "It is perfectly satisfactory so far as his life as a soldier is concerned, but as a man can be a very brave officer and a very bad husband, I shall make some further inquiries concerning him." "But M. de Senneterre speaks very highly of M. Olivier, you say." "Yes, my dear child, but a man may be an admirable friend and an excellent comrade, and yet make his wife very unhappy." "How suspicious you are! You forget that M. Olivier thinks me a poor girl--and that--" "That his gratitude, generosity, and love impelled him to offer you a more brilliant future than one in your supposed position had a right to expect, perhaps. It was a very generous and noble impulse, I admit, and a little while ago I was so touched by it that I allowed myself to become almost as enthusiastic as you and Herminie." "And has your opinion changed, now?" asked Ernestine, anxiously. "Now, my child, I judge not only with my heart but with my head; and reason tells me that, though M. Olivier's impulse was highly commendable, it was only an impulse. I do not doubt for an instant that M. Olivier will keep the promise he made you, and that he will act honourably in the matter, but I want to be sure--that is, as sure as one can be of anything in this world--that, in case M. Olivier married you, his whole life would harmonise with the impulse which I admire as much as you do." Ernestine could not conceal a sort of sorrowful impatience as she listened to these wise and prudent words, and noting this fact, the marquis continued, in a tone that was both grave and affectionate: