"And on what did Madame la Baronne de la Logerie base that supposition?" asked Bertha, with the same questioning look and the same firm, incisive voice. "Mademoiselle," replied the notary, more and more embarrassed, "after what I said to your father, really I do not know whether, in spite of the reward you promise to my frankness, I have the courage to say more." "Why not?" said Bertha, with the same coolness. "Shall I help you? It is because she thinks, I believe you said, that the object of Monsieur Michel's love is at Souday." "Yes, mademoiselle, that is just it." "Very good; but what I desire to know, and what I shall insist on knowing, is Madame de la Logerie's opinion of that love." "Her opinion is not exactly favorable, mademoiselle," returned the notary; "that I must admit." "That's a point on which my father and the baroness will agree," said Bertha, laughing. "But," continued the notary, pointedly, "Monsieur Michel will be of age in a few months,--consequently, free as to his actions, and the master of an immense fortune." "As to his actions," said Bertha, "so much the better for him." "In what way, mademoiselle?" asked the notary, maliciously. "Why to rehabilitate the name he bears and efface the evil memories his father left behind him. As to the fortune, if I were the woman Monsieur Michel honored with his affection, I should advise him to make such use of it that there would soon be no name in the whole province more honored than his." "What use would you advise him to make of it?" exclaimed the notary, much astonished. "To return that money to those from whom they say his father got it, and to make restitution to the former proprietors of the national domain which M. Michel bought." "But in that case, mademoiselle, you would ruin the man who had the honor to be in love with you," said the little notary, quite bewildered. "What would that matter if he obtained the respect of all, and the regard of her who advised the sacrifice?" Just then Rosine appeared at the door of the salon. "Mademoiselle," she said, not addressing herself particularly to either Mary or Bertha, "will you please come here?" Bertha wanted to continue her conversation with the notary. She was eager for information as to the feelings Madame de la Logerie had against her; and, moreover, she enjoyed talking, however vaguely, of projects which for some time past had been the theme of her meditations. So she told Mary to go and see what was wanted.