"He has so little motive for taking any interest in us. It is true he formerly knew your father, and I have often heard my poor brother speak of M. d'Orbigny as a man with whom he was on good terms before the latter left Paris to retire into the country with his young wife." "It is that which makes me hope. He has a young wife, and she will be compassionate. And then in the country one can do so much good. He will take you, I should think, as a housekeeper, and I could work in the needle-room. Then M. d'Orbigny is very rich, and in a great house there is always so much to do." "Yes; but we have so little claim on his kind interest!" "We are so unfortunate!" "It is true that is a claim in the eyes of charitably disposed persons." "Let us hope that M. d'Orbigny and his wife are so." "Then if we do not have any or an unfavorable answer from him, I will overcome my false shame, and write to the Duchesse de Lucenay." "The lady of whom M. de Saint-Remy has spoken so often, and whose kindness and generosity he so much, praised?" "The same,--daughter of the Prince de Noirmont. He knew her when she was very young, and treated her almost always as if she were his own child, for he was on terms of the closest intimacy with the prince. Madame de Lucenay must have many acquaintances, and, no doubt, could easily find situations for us." "No doubt, mamma. But I understand your delicacy; you do not know her, whilst, at least, my father and my uncle both knew a little of M. d'Orbigny." "Well, but in case Madame de Lucenay cannot do anything for us, I have still another resource." "What is that, mamma?" "A very poor one,--a very weak hope, perhaps. But why should I not try it? M. de Saint-Remy's son is--" "Has M. de Saint-Remy a son?" exclaimed Claire, interrupting her mother with great astonishment. "Yes, my dear, he has a son." "Yet he never spoke of him when he used to come to Angers." "True, and, for reasons which you cannot understand, M. de Saint-Remy, having quitted Paris fifteen years ago, has not seen his son since that period." "Fifteen years without seeing his father! Is that possible?" "Alas, yes! As you see, the son of M. de Saint-Remy, being very much sought after in society, and very rich--" "Very rich, whilst his father is poor?" "All young M. de Saint-Remy's wealth came from his mother." "What of that,--how could he leave his father?" "His father would not accept anything from him." "Why?" "That is a question to which I cannot reply, my dear child; but I have heard it said by my poor brother that this young man was reputed vastly generous. Young and generous, he ought to be good. Learning from me that my husband had been his father's intimate friend, perhaps he will interest himself in trying to find us work or employment. He has such high and extensive connections, that this would be no trouble to him."