"Very well, M. le marquis," replied the notary.

So he continued:

"'It is agreed by this contract that any property which either of the aforesaid parties now possesses, or may possess at any future time, belongs, and shall belong absolutely to that party, entirely independent of the other contracting party.'"

"It was you, my dear child," the marquis said to Herminie, interrupting the notary, "who, when I explained to you, yesterday, the various methods of settling questions of pecuniary interest between husband and wife, insisted, from motives of delicacy, that each party should hold his or her property absolutely independent of the other, for possessing nothing yourself except the talent by which you have so honourably maintained yourself up to the present time, you refused absolutely the community of interests and property which M. de Senneterre is so anxious to have you accept."

Herminie's eyes drooped, and she blushed deeply, as she replied:

"I am almost certain that M. de Senneterre will excuse and understand my refusal, monsieur."

Gerald bowed respectfully, and Berthe, his pretty sister, whispered delightedly to her mother:

"Mlle. Herminie's sentiments certainly harmonise with her charming and n.o.ble face, do they not, mamma?"

"Certainly, oh, certainly," replied Madame de Senneterre, absently; for she was saying to herself all the while: "By this delicacy of feeling, my daughter-in-law, little suspecting that the marquis intends to make her so rich, has virtually settled all her property upon herself, entirely independent of my son; but she loves him so much that, when she finds that she is rich, she is sure to change this state of affairs."

The notary continued: "'It is also hereby agreed that any male offspring that may result from this marriage shall add to their name of Senneterre that of Haut-Martel. This clause has been consented to by the parties aforesaid, at the request of Louis Auguste, Marquis de Maillefort, Prince Duc de Haut-Martel.'"

Herminie having made a slight movement as if of surprise, the hunchback said to her, glancing at Gerald:

"My dear child, this is a slight concession to ancestral pride, to which Gerald has given his consent, certain that you would have no objection to seeing your son bear, in addition to his own ill.u.s.trious name, the name of a man who regards you and loves you as his own daughter."

A look of respectful tenderness and grat.i.tude from Herminie was sufficient answer, and the hunchback, turning to the notary, said:

"That is the concluding clause of the contract, is it not?"

"Yes, M. le marquis."

"Then we can now proceed with the reading of Mlle. Ernestine's contract, can we not," asked the hunchback, "and sign both contracts at the same time, afterwards."

"Certainly, M. le marquis," replied the notary.

"Now comes our turn, my boy," whispered the commander to his nephew.

"What a pity it is that I haven't a snug little fortune to settle upon you and that dear child in the contract. But alas! all I shall be able to bequeath to you, I'm afraid, is good old Mother Barbancon," added the old officer, half sadly, half smilingly. "A queer wedding present she would be! I did think of selling our six tablespoons so I could make Ernestine a little present, but Mother Barbancon wouldn't listen to it.

Your wife would rather have the silver than jewelry, she said."

"And Mother Barbancon was right, uncle. But hush. He is beginning to read our contract now," for the notary, picking up the second contract, said aloud:

"Shall we also skip the names in this contract?"

"Yes, yes; go on," responded the marquis.

"In that case, I come at once to the first and only clause relative to financial matters in this contract."

"It is not likely to be a lengthy one," whispered Commander Bernard.

"Permit me to interrupt you a moment, monsieur," said Olivier, smiling.

"This clause of the contract seems entirely superfluous to me, for, as I had the honour to tell you yesterday, I have nothing but my pay, and Mlle. Ernestine Vert-Puis possesses nothing, save her skill as an embroideress."

"True, monsieur," replied the notary, smiling in his turn, "but as one has to be married under some regime or other, I thought it advisable to adopt this one, and state in the contract that you married Mlle.

Ernestine Vert-Puis under the community of goods regime, which stipulates that the husband and wife shall hold and enjoy their property in common."

"It would be more correct to say that we married under the community of no-goods regime," responded Olivier, gaily, "but it makes no difference.

As it is customary, we accept the clause, do we not, Mlle. Ernestine?"

"Very willingly, M. Olivier," replied Mlle. de Beaumesnil.

"So, monsieur," continued the young man, laughing, "it is agreed that Mlle. Ernestine and I each turn our entire property into one common fund,--everything, from my one epaulette to her embroidery needle,--a complete mutual renunciation, as it were."

"There will be only burdens to share," muttered the commander, with a sigh. "Ah, I never before longed to be rich as I do to-day!"

"It is decided, then, that the clause stipulating for a community of property shall remain; so I will proceed," said the notary.

"'The parties aforesaid marry under the community of property regime, and, consequently, agree to share, hold, and enjoy in common all property, real or personal, of any value whatsoever, of which they may now or at any future time be possessed, in their own right, or by inheritance.'"

"By inheritance! Poor things! My cross and my old sword are all they have to expect from me, M. Gerald," whispered the veteran.

"Oh, nonsense, commander," replied Gerald, gaily. "Who knows but you may die a millionaire?"

But as the old officer, not sharing this hope, shook his head, the notary, turning to Ernestine and Olivier, asked:

"This provision is perfectly satisfactory to you, mademoiselle, and to you, monsieur?"

"Whatever is satisfactory to M. Olivier is satisfactory to me," replied Mlle. de Beaumesnil.

"I think the arrangement perfect," answered Olivier, gaily; "and I a.s.sure you that never in your life did you insert in any contract a clause that is less likely to excite controversy than this."

"We will now proceed with the signing of the contracts," said the notary, gravely, rising as he spoke.

Madame de Senneterre, having taken advantage of the general movement, to approach M. de la Rochaigue, now said, like one completely bewildered:

"My dear baron, will you be kind enough to tell me what all this means?"

"What, madame la d.u.c.h.esse?"

"Why, all this mystery that is going on here."

"It is one that brought me nearly to the verge of madness a few days ago, madame la d.u.c.h.esse."

"But does M. Olivier really believe that Mlle. de Beaumesnil is a poor little embroideress?"

"Yes, madame."

"But why did he refuse the offer you made him?"

"Because he loved another, madame."

"And that other?"