ademoiselle de Gramont, in supposing that she
could use the money acquired in a manner so degrading to our _noble
house_ for the benefit of my grandson."

"That money, madame," rejoined M. de Bois, warmly, "has saved the honor
of your _noble house_! I will leave you to learn of Count Tristan how it
was imperilled, and how it would have been sullied but for Mademoiselle
Madeleine's timely aid."

"It has been _sullied_," began the countess.

"Not by Mademoiselle de Gramont," returned M. de Bois. "Once more, I
tell you that she has saved your escutcheon from a stain which could
never have been effaced. And for this act you spurn her, you scorn her
generosity; you tell her she is not worthy of rendering you a service,
instead of bowing down before her as you,--as we all might well do, in
reverence and admiration; thanking Heaven that such a woman has been
placed in the world, as a glorious example to her own sex, and an
inspiration to ours. The burden of her nobility has not crushed the
noble instincts of her heart, or paralyzed her noble hands. But you do
not know all yet; you owe her another debt"--

"Another debt?" Count Tristan was the first to exclaim.

"Yes," continued M. de Bois, in a tone of pride, "through her influence,
the influence of the duchess-mantua-maker, the votes you could never
otherwise have secured have been obtained; the committee met an hour
ago, and the road to the left, which you so much desired, has been
decided upon, and this, this too, you owe to Mademoiselle Madeleine's
exertions."

Neither Maurice nor Count Tristan was allowed to speak, for M. de Bois
went on without pause,--

"And do you deem _this, too_, madame, an impertinence, a presumption, a
crime, upon the part of your niece? Do you say that this is a favor
which you desire to reject? Happily it is not in your power! And now,
after she has been cast off, despised, and denounced by you and your
son, you are bound to come to her with thanks, if not to implore her
pardon."

"Sir," answered the countess, "you have forgotten yourself in a manner
which astonishes me, and must astonish all who hear you; and henceforth,
I beg you to understand"--

Bertha prevented the sentence of banishment, which the countess was
about to pronounce against M. de Bois, from being completed, by saying,
abruptly,--

"You will readily understand, M. de Bois, that we are so much surprised
that astonishment deprives us of fitting words."

Maurice now