The steward to whom that commission was intrusted soon returned to the Hôtel de Marvejols. Bathilde sent for him and bade him deliver his report to her in person. "Did you see monsieur le comte?" she asked, taking her eyes for a moment from her child, who lay beside her on the bed. "Yes, madame; I requested to be allowed that honor, as one who had something of great importance to say to monsieur le comte, and I was ushered into his presence." "And you told him----?" "That madame had brought into the world a daughter, as beautiful as the day." Bathilde smiled, and glanced at the child with an expression that seemed to say: "He told the truth, my child! there is nothing on earth more beautiful than thou art!" Then she motioned to the messenger to continue. "I had the honor to say to monsieur le comte that madame la comtesse desired to receive his commands relative to the ceremony of baptism." "Well! what was monsieur le comte's reply?" "Monseigneur first asked me what persons were with madame la comtesse at this moment?" "And you told him that no one was with me save my loyal friend Ambroisine and my servants?" "Yes, madame; and then monsieur le comte remained for a long time absorbed in thought, so that he probably forgot that I was there; for he suddenly looked up and said to me: 'What are you doing here?' "'Monseigneur,' I replied, 'I am waiting to know what I am to say to madame la comtesse.' "'Tell her,' said monsieur le comte, 'that she may do as she pleases, that I leave her entirely at liberty, that I have no orders to give.' "And monseigneur dismissed me with a wave of his hand." "That will do," said Bathilde, heaving a sigh, which died away over her child's cradle; and she motioned to the servant to leave the room. When he had gone, she glanced sadly at Ambroisine. "He will not come here," she said, "even to see his daughter!" "Console yourself! he will come some day, and when he has once seen this little angel you will no longer need to send messages to him!" "You are right!" said the young mother, letting her eyes rest once more on her child. "Yes, I must place all my confidence, all my hope, on this little darling; and, in truth, when heaven has sent me such a treasure, it is no time for me to indulge in lamentations. But still, Ambroisine, who will hold my daughter over the baptismal font?" "Does not the grandfather always act as sponsor for the firstborn?--Send a courier to Monsieur le Marquis de Marvejols, at Champfleury; it is near Chartres--about forty leagues from here, I believe. You will receive a reply within a week." "You are right, Ambroisine; yes, it is my duty to turn now for guidance to that venerable man who has been so kind to me. But I am still too weak. Act for me, give the necessary orders, see that the courier is despatched."