A good night’s rest, and the knowledge that Polignac could never disturb her again, cured Madame de Vaudrey’s hysteria, and she came down next morning somewhat pale, but in her usual health. After breakfast Harry took the first opportunity of finding his hostess alone, to deliver Fanshawe’s letter. She smiled as she took it and noticed the handwriting. "From that dear Monsieur Fanshawe, is it not?" she said. "Yes, Madame." "What can he have to write about, I wonder? Do you know, Harry?" "Fanshawe told me, and—well, he asked me—that is, I promised to put in a word for him." "Vraiment! Then I think I guess the subject of his letter. Come, mon ami, what have you to say for him, then?" The comtesse watched Harry with a twinkle of enjoyment. Her mother’s eye had penetrated the state of the case. "Godfrey is a good fellow, Madame; amiable—you know that; he will be rich some day; he—sings a good song; he—in short, Madame, he is very fond of Mademoiselle, and—and——" "And would make a good husband, you think? Well, my dear Harry, I shall tell Adèle that he has written to me, and repeat what you have said in his behalf; but you know her: she has a mind of her own; and I can only give her my advice." And she left Harry in a tormenting perplexity as to what her advice would be. It was a week or two before Mynheer Grootz was well enough to leave his room, and during those days his kind attendants were careful to avoid all but the most necessary references to what had happened. He was told that Polignac was dead and the hue and cry was out after Aglionby, and his convalescence was not retarded by any fears on the ladies’ behalf. One morning, when the doctor allowed him to come downstairs, he sent Harry to find Madame de Vaudrey. It was time, he said, that the motive of Polignac’s recent attempt should be seriously considered. "Madame," he said in French, when with Harry they were closeted in the reception-room, "it has not yet been told you, but we have reason to believe that Polignac urged his suit upon Adèle because he had information that she is heiress to some estates." "As she is—heiress to Lindendaal." "Yes, but the estates in question must be of greater value. Your little estate here is not of so much worth as to account for Polignac promising large sums to Aglionby, first on his marriage with Adèle, secondly on her succession to her property. Tell me, Madame, know you of anything that could give colour to the beliefs of these wretches?" "Nothing, my friend. My husband, as you know well, was a refugee, an exile: his family estates in France were confiscated long ago. As for me, I had nothing but my poor little dowry. No relatives of mine are owners of estates." "But on Monsieur le Comte’s side: his mother: she was an Englishwoman, I believe?" "Yes. I know little of her; she died very soon after the birth of her only child, my dear husband." "What was her name?"