"Oh, yes! I beg that you will."

"Very good, I will hire a house. If it isn't furnished, I will send some furniture. Give me some money; I shall want quite a great deal."

Cherubin ran to his desk, took out some bank-notes, and handed them to Darena, saying:

"Here, here are two thousand, three thousand francs--is that enough?"

"Yes; but you may as well give me four thousand at once; I must not fall short. Now, let me manage the affair. I will make sure of a house, first of all, and have it arranged to receive your inamorata; then I will watch for a favorable opportunity; as soon as it comes, I will abduct the lady, then I will come here and tell you. All that you will have to do will be to pluck the fruit of the victory, and that will not be an unpleasant task."

"It is delightful!"

"But, above all, not a word of this to Monfreville, or I will have nothing more to do with it."

"Never fear, that is understood."

"When your charmer has escaped from her tyrant's hands, I will take care to order a dainty repast sent to your little retreat. It is always essential that a lady should find something to eat when she arrives."

"Yes, my friend, order a supper. But no plums, I beg! No plums! I have a horror of them!"

Darena stared at Cherubin in amazement as he replied:

"Never fear. I was not aware of your aversion for plums; they are said to be very healthful."

"If I see any on the table, I shall run off at once."

"All right--don't get excited. I will see that none are served."

And the count left his young friend, after pocketing the bank-notes.

"Well," said Cherubin, "this conquest shall not escape me, and it will make up to me for all that I have lost."

XXIII

A FAMILY INTERIOR

As Ernestine had announced to Louise, Madame de Noirmont returned home on the day that she was expected. Her arrival was a festal occasion for Ernestine, who flew to meet her mother the instant that she caught sight of her, and threw herself into her arms. Madame de Noirmont responded lovingly to her daughter's caresses; it was easy to see that she was touched by them, and that she was genuinely happy to be at home once more.

Monsieur de Noirmont did not rush to meet his wife; such tokens of affection were not in accordance with his nature; he feared that, by indulging in them, he should compromise his dignity. However, when he learned that she had returned, he went to her room and greeted her pleasantly, but did not kiss her.

"Did you have a pleasant journey, madame?"

"Yes, thanks, monsieur."

"And how is your aunt, Madame Dufrenil?"

"She is much better, monsieur; her health is entirely restored. But it was time for me to return, or I should have been really ill with ennui, from being away from my daughter so long. I was very sorry that you did not allow me to take her with me, monsieur."

"The result of that, madame, is that you have the greater pleasure in seeing her again, and I trust that it will make you love her dearly."

With that, Monsieur de Noirmont saluted his wife and returned to his study.

When her husband had gone, Madame de Noirmont drew her daughter to her and pressed her to her heart again and again:

"Your father thinks that I do not love you," she murmured. "Do you think so too, my love?"

"Oh, no! indeed I don't, mamma," cried Ernestine. "But papa doesn't think so, either; I am sure of it. I know that you love me; and why shouldn't you? am I not your daughter?"

Madame de Noirmont's features contracted nervously; her brow darkened, and she hastily extricated herself from Ernestine's arms. But the cloud soon vanished and she drew the girl to her again, saying in a melancholy tone:

"Oh, yes, yes! I love you dearly!"

"I have never doubted it, mamma, and if you have sometimes--as you had just now, for instance--moments when my caresses seem tiresome to you, I am sure that it's just because you have a headache, or because you're thinking about something else; but you don't love me any less, do you?"

"No, of course I never love you any less. Did the time seem long to you while I was away?"

"Oh! yes, mamma! But luckily I have had a new maid for three weeks.

Father must have written you that he discharged the other one, didn't he?"

"Yes, dear."

"Oh! I like the new one ever so much better! If you knew how nice she is! and not a bit stupid, nor vulgar! She speaks very correctly, and yet she came right from her village; she has never lived out, but she learned her duties instantly."

"Who brought her here?"

"Comtois. He had excellent recommendations."

Madame de Noirmont smiled at the serious tone in which her daughter spoke.

"My dear girl," she replied, "I know that we may rely on Comtois.--What is your new maid's name?"

"Louise--Louise Fre--Frenet--I never can remember her other name. But no matter, she's a very nice girl, I tell you, mamma; I am sure that you will like her too. I am going to call her, to show her to you. She's very shy, that is why she hasn't come to pay her respects to you."

"Mon Dieu! my dear love, I have plenty of time to see your maid; there is no hurry about it."

"Oh, yes! I want you to see her right away, mamma."

Ernestine rang a bell; in a moment the door opened and Louise appeared in the doorway, timid and with downcast eyes.

"Did madame ring for me?" she murmured.

Madame de Noirmont scrutinized the girl, whom she then saw for the first time; she was struck by her beauty, by the dignified expression of her features, by her modest and reserved demeanor, by her whole aspect, which was not what one ordinarily sees in a lady's maid. She could not tire of looking at her.

Ernestine leaned toward her mother and whispered:

"Well! what do you think of her?"