In fact, he gazed at the baron with such a bewildered air that M. de la Rochaigue said to himself:

"One might really suppose that I was talking Hebrew to him. He evinces so little emotion on hearing the name of Mlle. de Beaumesnil that one would suppose he did not even know her. What does all this mean? That cunning devil of a marquis was right when he told me that I must be prepared for very surprising developments."

"May I again inquire in what possible way the fact that you are, or are not, Mlle. de Beaumesnil's guardian interests me?" said Olivier, with ill-suppressed impatience.

"Now for the lie," the baron said to himself. "Let us see what effect it will have."

Then he added aloud:

"You made quite a long stay at the Chateau de Beaumesnil?"

"I did, as I told you some time ago," responded Olivier, with growing impatience.

"You probably were not aware that Mlle. de Beaumesnil was at the chateau at the same time that you were."

"Mlle. de Beaumesnil?"

"Yes, monsieur," replied the baron, imperturbably, satisfied that he was lying with true diplomatic ease and a.s.surance; "yes, monsieur, Mlle. de Beaumesnil was at the chateau while you were there."

"But I was told that the young lady was in a foreign country, monsieur; besides, I saw no one at the chateau."

"That does not surprise me at all, monsieur. The fact is, Mlle. de Beaumesnil wished to spend the early days of her mourning for her mother at this chateau, and as she desired complete solitude, every one on the estate was requested to keep her arrival a profound secret."

"Then it is not strange that I should have been ignorant of it, particularly as I stayed in the house of the steward, quite a little distance from the chateau. But once more, let me ask--"

"I beg you will not be impatient, monsieur, but listen to me with the closest attention, for the matter to be considered is, I repeat, of the greatest, gravest, and highest importance to you."

"The man nearly drives me mad by his absurd and senseless repet.i.tions!"

Olivier mentally exclaimed. "What on earth is he driving at? What possible interest have I in Mlle. de Beaumesnil and her chateau?"

"The master mason by whom you were employed," continued the baron, suavely, "told our steward that the proceeds of the labour you imposed upon yourself during your leave were to be devoted to aiding your uncle, for whom you felt an almost filial affection."

"Good Heavens, monsieur, why should any importance be attached to such a trivial thing as that? Let us get at the facts of the case."

"The fact is just this, monsieur," resumed the baron, impressively, and with an almost solemn gesture, "your generous conduct towards your uncle was reported to Mlle. de Beaumesnil by her steward."

"Well, what if it was!" exclaimed Olivier, whose patience was now completely exhausted. "What is your object in apprising me of the fact?"

"My object is to let you know that mademoiselle is one of the n.o.blest, best-hearted young ladies in the world, and, being such, is more keenly appreciative of generous acts in others than the majority of people; so when she heard of your devotion to your uncle, she was so touched by it that she desired to see you."

"See me?" repeated Olivier, incredulously.

"Yes, monsieur, my ward wished to see you, but without being seen by you; she was anxious, too, to hear you talk, and, with the aid of her steward, managed to act the part of an unseen auditor at several of your conversations, both with the steward and the master mason by whom you were employed. The strict integrity and n.o.bility of your sentiments were so clearly revealed in these conversations, that my ward was as deeply impressed by your n.o.bility of character as by your pleasing personal attributes, and--"

"Monsieur," interrupted Olivier, turning crimson, "I can scarcely believe that a man of your age and position could find any amus.e.m.e.nt in such unseemly jesting, and yet I do not suppose for one moment that you are speaking seriously."

"I had the honour, monsieur, to submit for your inspection the doc.u.mentary evidence that I am Mlle. de Beaumesnil's legally appointed guardian in order that you might give full credence to my words. I subsequently warned you that what I had to say might appear singular, strange, even extraordinary to you, and you surely can not suppose that a man of my age, position, and social prominence would feel any inclination to trifle with the sacred interests entrusted to him or to make as honourable a young man as yourself the victim of a practical joke."

"So be it, monsieur," replied Olivier, pacified by this a.s.surance on the part of the baron, "I confess I was wrong to suppose, even for an instant, that you were capable of such a thing, and yet--"

"Once again will you kindly allow me to remind you of my warning that I had some very extraordinary things to impart," said the baron, again interrupting Olivier. "Now, with your permission, I will proceed with my explanation. Mlle. de Beaumesnil is sixteen years of age. She is the richest heiress in France, consequently," added the baron, emphasising the words strongly and giving Olivier a meaning look, "consequently she need not trouble herself in the least about the pecuniary condition of the man she will choose for a husband. She desires, above all, to marry a man who pleases her, and who she feels will a.s.sure her future happiness. As regards his name and social position, provided his name and social position are honourable and honoured, Mlle. de Beaumesnil is content. Do you understand me at last, monsieur?"

"I have listened to you with the closest attention, M. le baron. I understand perfectly that Mlle. de Beaumesnil intends to marry to her own liking, without much, or, indeed, any regard to the rank and pecuniary condition of the man of her choice. She is perfectly right, I think; but why should I be told all this,--I, who have never met Mlle.

de Beaumesnil in my life, and who probably never shall?"

"I have told you this, M. Olivier Raymond, because Mlle. de Beaumesnil is persuaded that in you are united all the attributes she most desires in a husband; so, after having made the most careful inquiries concerning you,--with results which were most flattering to yourself, I must admit,--I, as the guardian of Mlle. de Beaumesnil, am deputised, authorised, and commissioned to offer you her hand in marriage."

The baron might have gone on a good while longer without any interruption from Olivier.

Though the latter was astounded by what he had just heard, he could no longer suppose that this was a hoax on the part of M. de la Rochaigue, who, in spite of his absurd flights of oratory, was really a grave, dignified man, with perfect manners.

On the other hand, how could he believe,--without an immense amount of conceit, and conceit was not one of Olivier's besetting sins, by any means,--how could he believe that the richest heiress in France had so suddenly lost her heart to him?

A minute or two pa.s.sed before Olivier spoke. When he did, it was to say:

"I am sure you will excuse my silence and my bewilderment, monsieur, as you, yourself, fully realised that you had some very extraordinary revelations to make--"

"Do not hurry yourself in the least, monsieur. Take plenty of time to recover yourself, for I can very easily understand the mental agitation such a proposition must excite. I should add, however, that Mlle. de Beaumesnil knows perfectly well that you cannot accept her offer until after you have seen her and made her acquaintance. So, if you desire it, I will present you to my ward, and it is my earnest desire that you will both find in your mutual acquaintance a guaranty, hope, and certainty of future happiness."

After which peroration, the baron said to himself:

"Thank Heaven, that is over! Now, I shall discover the answer to this enigma which seems more and more incomprehensible every minute."

Up to this time, Mlle. de Beaumesnil, Herminie, and the hunchback had listened to the conversation in breathless silence. Herminie now understood for the first time the twofold object of the test to which M.

de Maillefort had felt it necessary to subject Olivier; but Ernestine, in spite of her confidence in the n.o.bility of the young officer's character, was in torture, as she awaited Olivier's reply to the baron's dazzling offer. The temptation, alas! was so great. How few persons would be able to resist it! Was there any living man who would not forget or ignore a promise made to an unattractive, penniless, and friendless girl, and eagerly embrace the opportunity to acquire colossal wealth?

"_Mon Dieu!_ I tremble, in spite of myself," murmured Ernestine. "The renunciation we expect of M. Olivier is above human strength, perhaps.

Alas! alas! why did I consent to this test?"

"Courage, my child," whispered the hunchback, "think only of the happiness and admiration you will feel if Olivier realises our expectations. But hush, he is going to reply."

With a half frenzied movement, Ernestine threw herself into Herminie's arms, and it was thus that the two girls, trembling with fear and hope, awaited Olivier's answer.

The young man could no longer doubt that this most remarkable offer had been made in all seriousness; but unable to explain it on the ground of personal merit,--for Olivier was an extremely modest man,--he attributed it to one of those caprices not uncommon in romantic young persons whose exorbitant wealth places them in an exceptional position,--caprices which in many cases amount to positive eccentricity.

"Monsieur," Olivier began, in a firm voice, after quite a long silence, "though the proposition you have just made to me is so strange, so entirely beyond the bounds of possibility, I might almost say, I give you my word of honour that, inexplicable as it seems to me, I believe in its sincerity."

"You can, monsieur, that is the important thing; that is all I ask of you."

"I do, and I shall make no attempt to fathom the incomprehensible reasons which led Mlle. de Beaumesnil to think of me even for an instant."

"Pardon me, but I have already explained these reasons, monsieur."

"Though I am not particularly modest, these reasons seem to me far from adequate; besides, I have no right to avail myself of this too flattering offer, for--for it is impossible for me--I will not say to accept Mlle. de Beaumesnil's hand--such an important act must necessarily depend upon a thousand unforeseen contingencies, but to--"

"I give you my word of honour, monsieur, that it depends only upon yourself," said the baron, in such grave tones that Olivier could not fail to be deeply impressed, "understand me, upon yourself, absolutely and entirely. And, if you desire it, I will introduce you to the young lady before an hour has elapsed. It will then be impossible for you to feel the slightest doubt in regard to--to the sincerity of the offer I have just made you."

"I believe you, monsieur, as I said before. I only wish to say that it is impossible for me to even consider the proposition you have been so kind as to make to me."