"Good Heavens! Mademoiselle, you know very well that if you should become as poor as I am I should be just as devoted to you."
"I do not doubt that in the least, but until I become poor, do what I ask. Take me to Madame Herbaut's to-morrow evening."
"But if you will talk the matter over a little you will see how impossible your plan is."
"And why?"
"In the first place, how can you arrange to have the disposal of your evening? The baron and baroness and Mlle. Helena never leave you."
"Oh, I can manage that very easily. To-morrow morning I will say that I passed a very uncomfortable night, and that I am not feeling at all well. I will remain in my room all day, and to-morrow evening you will go to the family and tell them that I am asleep and don't wish to be disturbed by anybody. My guardian and his family respect my slightest wish so abjectly that they will not dare to disturb my slumbers," added Mlle. de Beaumesnil, with mingled sadness and disdain.
"Oh, mademoiselle is perfectly right about that. No one would dare to contradict or oppose mademoiselle in anything. If mademoiselle should tell M. le baron to stand on his head, he would do it without a word."
"Oh, yes, they are certainly the most considerate of relatives, so full of tenderness and dignity," replied Ernestine, with a rather peculiar expression. "Ah, well, you see, then, that it will be an easy matter for me to secure an evening to myself."
"Yes, mademoiselle, but how shall we manage to get out of the house?"
"Get out of the house?"