not aware that your property was mortgaged, and I come to tell
you so."

"You have again made me your debtor," replied Maurice, not a little
gratified. "I give you my word, as a gentleman, that I had not the
remotest suspicion the property in question was encumbered. I have no
right to complain of the severity of your treatment; it was justifiable
under the circumstances."

"Hardly," replied the other. "But I shall esteem it a privilege to make
all the reparation in my power. Of course you are aware that the
railroad mentioned passes through your property, and that the estate has
already doubled its former value? I came here to say that I am ready not
only to loan you the ten thousand dollars you originally requested me to
advance, but a larger sum, if you so desire."

What a sensation of thankfulness and relief those words caused Maurice!
He would not only be enabled to repay Madeleine the amount she had so
generously loaned, but he would be in a situation to meet the heavy
expenses which his father and grandmother were daily incurring! Count de
Gramont had never given his son entire confidence, and the latter was
not aware of the _exact_ state of the count's affairs; but Maurice had
too much cause to believe that they were in a ruinous condition. He had
only recently become acquainted with the mortifying fact that, from the
time his father left the Chateau de Gramont, Bertha had been the banker
of the whole party.

"I will meet your offer as frankly as it is made," answered Maurice,
after a moment's reflection. "If you feel justified in loaning me
fifteen thousand dollars, instead of ten, upon the former security, I
will esteem it a great favor."

"Willingly; come to my office to-day, at any hour you please, and we
will settle the matter. Make haste, for I must write to Lorrillard by
this evening's mail, and I desire to inform him, in answer to his
somewhat caustic letter, that I have made the _amende honorable_."

CHAPTER XLVI.

A MISHAP.

Madeleine was accustomed to see Maurice at a certain hour every day, and
looked forward to that period with such joyous expectation that a sense
of disquiet, amounting to positive pain, took possession of her mind
when the time passed without his making his appearance. She could not
help reflecting how sad and long the days would grow when she could no
more listen for his welcome step, and feel her heart bounding at the
sight of his handsome countenance; and yet