The duchess shook her head sadly.
"Alas! I can not say that I see any reason to hope," she replied, "but don't let us talk of my troubles now, Ernestine. We will discuss them again when the subject that is now on my mind has ceased to divert my thoughts from them."
"To what subject do you refer?"
"It is a matter that concerns you, Ernestine."
"Me?"
"It is a matter that may exert a very happy influence over your future, my poor, lonely child."
"What do you mean, Herminie?"
"I am not the proper person to explain this mystery to you. I was asked to do so, but fearing I might influence you by the manner in which I presented the case, I refused, wishing your decision to be unbiased by any outside influence, though I will express my opinion afterwards if you wish."
"Good Heavens! What you say, Herminie, mystifies me more and more. What is this very important project?"
"The last time you were here, and while Commander Bernard was again expressing his fervent gratitude to you, M. Olivier begged me to see him the next day on a very important matter, he said. I complied with his request, and the matter was indeed one of grave importance, so grave, in fact, that he asked me to act as his intermediary with you, which I refused to do for reasons I have already explained."