"You are sure, madame, that this young girl received no remuneration from Madame de Beaumesnil for her services? You are positive of it?"
"We were so unanimously convinced of the fact," replied the baroness, delighted at this opportunity to show her generosity, "that, deploring this ingratitude on the part of the countess, we decided to send five hundred francs to the young girl."
"That was only just."
"I think so, too, but what do you think came of it?"
"I haven't the slightest idea."
"Well, the young artiste brought the five hundred francs back to us and told us that she had been paid."
"She must be a noble-hearted girl," exclaimed the marquis; "but you see from that, that the countess had not forgotten the young musician, after all. Doubtless, she must have given her a suitable token of her gratitude while she was alive instead of leaving her a legacy."
"You would not think so, monsieur, if you had seen how indicative of decent poverty the young girl's garments were. She would certainly have been better dressed if she had been a recipient of Madame de Beaumesnil's bounty. In fact, the young artiste, who, by the way, is wonderfully handsome, so excited my compassion and admiration by the delicacy of her conduct that I suggested she should come and give Ernestine music lessons."
"You did? Why, that was very noble of you!"
"Your astonishment is not very flattering, marquis."