"Loyalty!" exclaimed Ernestine, bitterly. "Loyalty, and yet he deserts you!"
"Deserts me? Far from it. On the contrary, he renews his offer of his hand."
"He, M. de Senneterre?" exclaimed Ernestine, in even greater astonishment "But, in that case, why are you so unhappy, Herminie?" she added.
"Because a penniless orphan like myself can make such a marriage only at the cost of the bitterest humiliation."
Herminie could say no more, for just then the door-bell rang again.
"Forgive me, my dear Ernestine," she exclaimed, drying her tears. "I think I know who it is that has just rung. I am obliged to see this visitor and—"
"Then I will leave you, Herminie," said Ernestine, rising hastily. "I am sorry, though, to leave you in such grief."
"At least wait until my visitor comes in!"
"Go and open the door, then, Herminie, while I put on my hat."
The duchess started towards the door, then, recollecting M. de Maillefort's deformity, she returned, and said to her friend: