It was Herminie.
CHAPTER XII.
A VAIN INTERVIEW.
Several days after Madame de Beaumesnil's funeral, M. de Maillefort, arousing himself from the gloomy lethargy into which the death of the countess had plunged him, resolved to carry out that unfortunate lady's last wishes in regard to the unknown orphan, though he fully realised all the difficulties of the mission intrusted to him.
How should he go to work to find the young girl whom Madame de Beaumesnil had so urgently commended to his care?
To whom could he apply for information that would give him the necessary clue to her identity?
Above all, how could he secure this information without compromising Madame de Beaumesnil's good name and the secrecy with which she had wished him to carry out her intentions with regard to this mysterious daughter,—her illegitimate child, as M. de Maillefort could no longer doubt.
The hunchback recollected that on the evening of her death the countess had sent a confidential servant to beg him to come to the Hôtel de Beaumesnil without delay.
"This woman has been in Madame de Beaumesnil's service a long time," thought the marquis. "She may be able to give me some information."
So M. de Maillefort's valet, a trustworthy and devoted man, was sent to bring Madame Dupont to the house of the marquis.
"I know how devotedly you were attached to your mistress, my dear Madame Dupont," the marquis began.