rough the hall. The door of the drawing-room stood open; she
caught sight of Madeleine, and ran toward her, exclaiming joyfully,--

"Oh, what good fortune! How rejoiced my poor mistress will be! She did
not dare to hope for this great kindness! I am so thankful! I will fly
to announce to her the good news!"

She hurried away, leaving Madeleine's relatives more than ever amazed by
these mysterious words.

Count Tristan was the first to break the silence. Ever keenly alive to
his own interest, he saw a great advantage to be gained if he had
interpreted the language of the _femme de chambre_ rightly.

In an altered tone, a tone of marked consideration, he asked, "You are
well acquainted with the Marchioness de Fleury?"

"_Very well!_" replied Madeleine, with an incomprehensible emphasis,
while a smile that had a faint touch of satire flitted over her face.

"She receives you?" questioned the count.

"Always," answered Madeleine, smiling again.

"She esteems you?" persisted the count.

"I have every reason to believe that she does."

"And you have influence with her," joined in Bertha, suspecting the
count's drift, and feeling desirous of aiding him.

"I think I may venture to say I have."

"Oh, how fortunate!" cried Bertha; "you maybe of the greatest service to
our cousin, Count Tristan." She took the letter out of his hand, and
placing it in Madeleine's, added, "Beg Madame de Fleury to read this
letter, and obtain her promise that she will use her influence with the
Marquis de Fleury to cause Mr. Gobert,--Gobert, that's his name, is it
not?" appealing to the count,--"to cause Mr. Gobert to vote as herein
instructed. See, how well I have explained that matter! I really believe
I have an undeveloped talent for business."

"The letter should reach Madame de Fleury this morning. The appeal
should be made to the marquis _to-day_,--_this very day!_" urged the
count.

"It shall be!" replied Madeleine, with quiet confidence.

The countess here interposed.

"What, my son, you are willing to solicit the interference of
Mademoiselle de Gramont, without knowing how and where she has passed
her time, how she has lived since she fled from the Chateau de Gramont?
I refuse my consent to such a proceeding."

"Aunt,--madame," returned Madeleine, in a gently pleading voice, "do not
deprive me of the pleasure of serving you. Humble and unworthy
instrument that I am, leave me that happiness."

"If the marchioness would o