"No, our positions are not equal, alas! and that is my chief misfortune, for in order to equalise our positions apparently, Gerald deceived me as to his real station in life."
"Great Heavens! Who is he, then?"
"The Duc de Senneterre."
"The Duc de Senneterre!" exclaimed Ernestine, filled with terror for Herminie, as she remembered that Gerald was one of the three suitors for her—Ernestine's—hand, and that she was to meet him at the ball on the following Thursday. Consequently, he must have deceived Herminie in the most shameless manner, as he was, at that very time, endeavouring to marry a rich heiress.
Herminie attributed her friend's intense dismay and astonishment entirely to the startling revelation that had just been made, however, and asked:
"Tell me, Ernestine, am I not, indeed, unfortunate?"
"But such a deception on his part was infamous. How did you discover it?"
"M. de Senneterre himself, feeling unable to endure the life of deceit his first falsehood imposed upon him, but not daring to make the confession himself, entrusted the unpleasant task to M. Olivier."
"It should be some comfort to you that M. de Senneterre at least made this confession of his own accord," said Ernestine.
"Yes, and, in spite of the grief it has caused me, I see in it a proof of the loyalty I so admired in him."