"One has been found already. I understand that she is to marry a youth
in the neighborhood, who has some property--a certain Chanlouineau."

The artless school-girl was more cunning than the marquis. She had
satisfied herself that she had just grounds for her suspicions; and she
experienced a certain anger on finding him so well informed in regard to
everything that concerned Mlle. Lacheneur.

"And do you believe that this is the husband of whom she had dreamed?
Ah, well! God grant that she may be happy; for we were very fond of her,
very--were we not, Aunt Medea?"

Aunt Medea was the old lady seated beside Mlle. Blanche.

"Yes, very," she replied.

This aunt, or cousin, rather, was a poor relation whom M. de Courtornieu
had sheltered, and who was forced to pay dearly for her bread; since
Mlle. Blanche compelled her to play the part of echo.

"It grieves me to see these friendly relations, which were so dear
to me, broken," resumed Mlle. de Courtornieu. "But listen to what
Marie-Anne has written."

She drew from her belt where she had placed it, Mlle. Lacheneur's letter
and read:


"'My dear blanche--You know that the Duc de Sairmeuse has returned. The