"A very poor one,—a very weak hope, perhaps. But why should I not try it? M. de Saint-Remy's son is—"
"Has M. de Saint-Remy a son?" exclaimed Claire, interrupting her mother with great astonishment.
"Yes, my dear, he has a son."
"Yet he never spoke of him when he used to come to Angers."
"True, and, for reasons which you cannot understand, M. de Saint-Remy, having quitted Paris fifteen years ago, has not seen his son since that period."
"Fifteen years without seeing his father! Is that possible?"
"Alas, yes! As you see, the son of M. de Saint-Remy, being very much sought after in society, and very rich—"
"Very rich, whilst his father is poor?"
"All young M. de Saint-Remy's wealth came from his mother."
"What of that,—how could he leave his father?"