e had
used her aunt's name to conceal her own generosity.

"And you, Bertha,--do you also disclaim all knowledge of the
transaction?"

"Yes, I only wish I _had_ known."

"It was not you, then?" replied Maurice, more and more astonished. "Who
could it have been? I have no intimate friend in Washington but Gaston
de Bois, and he has not the power to do me this service."

"Was he aware of the circumstances which made you need this sum?" asked
Bertha.

"He certainly knew something of the transaction, but I do not think"--

"That is enough!" she replied, joyfully. "If he knew anything about it,
I know from whom the money came. There is but one person who could have
sent it; and that is Madeleine!"

"Madeleine?"

"Yes, Madeleine,--our own, generous Madeleine," returned Bertha. "M. de
Bois is her trusted friend and counsellor."

The Countess de Gramont rose up majestically, white with rage.

"But what _right_ has she, the mantua-maker, the tradeswoman, to make
use of _my_ name? How did she dare even to allow it to be suspected
that I had ever come in contact with a person who has so demeaned
herself? It is unpardonable audacity!"

"You little know the full value of the service she has rendered me!"
exclaimed Maurice, unheeding his grandmother's anger.

"A service which you must not and shall not stoop to accept. Never will
I consent to that," returned the countess, fiercely. "Would you profit
by her ignoble labor? Has your residence in this plebeian land bowed you
as low as that?"

"If," replied Maurice, "it be a blow to my pride to be forced to accept
her aid (for it has been tendered in a manner which cannot now be
declined), it is a blow which has lifted me up, not bowed me down. It
has made me feel that a great spirit which humbles itself and bends
meekly to circumstance and does not regard any toil, nearest to its
hand, as too lowly,--that spirit has truest cause for pride, since it
earns the privilege of serving others. You have yet to learn that
Madeleine's timely assistance has saved, not me alone, but our whole
family from _disgrace_,--ay, positive _disgrace_! If you would know more
on that subject, I refer you to my father. For myself, I will seek
Madeleine and discover whether she has indeed made me so greatly her
debtor."

The countess would have detained him; but Maurice was gone before she
could speak.

He had alluded to his father as involved in this mysterious affair,
which the countess was