the whole affair
been a disgraceful and clandestine one? You may well refuse to mention
his name! It can only be one which your family can object to hear."

"You are right in one respect, madame: it is one which they object to
hear; but, as I shall never be the wife of any other man,--yet never, in
all probability, the wife of _that one_,--let the subject of marriage be
set aside. In regard to closing this establishment, you are hardly
aware, madame, what you request. It would not be in my power to close it
suddenly, granting that I had the will to do so. I should not merely
throw out of employment some fifty struggling women, who are at present
occupied here, but would prevent my keeping faith in fulfilling
engagements already made. I will not dwell upon the great personal loss
that it would be to me. I should be glad to believe you are convinced of
the impossibility of my complying with your wishes."

"Do you mean to say that you actually refuse?"

"I am compelled to do so; but I will exert myself to render your visits
private. I will devise some method by which you will be entirely
shielded from the view of those who come here on business."

"You presume to think, then, that in spite of your insolent refusal, I
will allow my son to remain here?"

Madeleine felt that she could say no more, and looked beseechingly
toward Maurice, who exclaimed,--

"My father must remain here, for he cannot be removed. I gladly accept
my cousin's kind offer, and will remain to watch beside my father.
Bertha and yourself can continue to live at the hotel and visit him as
often as you feel inclined."

"Let me go! Let me go! I am suffocating! I stifle in this house!" burst
forth the countess, as though she were really choking. "I cannot remain.
Bertha, I want you. Maurice, give me your arm,--let me get away
quickly."

Maurice reconducted his grandmother to the hotel, almost without their
exchanging a word by the way. Bertha accompanied them, but she walked
behind with Gaston de Bois.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

MINISTRATION.

Maurice, exasperated as he was at his grandmother's insolence to his
cousin, well knew that any attempt to soothe Madame de Gramont, or even
to reconcile her to the inevitable, would be fruitless. Her domineering
spirit could not bow itself to be governed, even by the pressure of
inexorable circumstance; she strove to control events by ignoring their
existence, and to break the force of her calamity by enc