"Behold, behold!" she cried. "There would not be l'argent for mon Alphonse if thou didst not do thy noble best; if I did not keep the établissement going. He wants his comforts, that aged and beloved one."
"Ah, oui, je comprens," said little Margot.
And she did comprehend, and kept her word.
After a few weeks had gone by, Madame la Comtesse gave orders to her servants not to admit anyone, old or young, man or woman, into the presence of M. le Comte. The servants assured her that they would obey her to the very letter. They loved her because she was so bright and gay and obliging. They did not in the least mind whether she kept a magasin or not. Did she not load them with gifts? Was there ever quite so good a place to serve in as the Château St. Juste?
Yes, they loved Madame, and they adored la petite Comtesse.
But it so happened that the old M. le Comte, lying against his pillows of down, thought a great deal about his granddaughter. Henri was indeed a boy to be proud of, but after all he was nothing to la petite. He wasted l'argent; la petite seemed never to spend anything. Was justice being done to this charming little creature by the father of Henri? He troubled himself about this. He became anxious.
One day he spoke to Madame la Comtesse.
"Madame," he said, "thou hast given up thy établissement?"
"Ah, oui, certainement, Alphonse," was the quick answer of Madame.
"Tell me now from the bottom of thy heart, Madame, what provision we can make for la petite Comtesse."