round, leaving M. de Saint-Remy
and Madame d'Harville with Mlle. de Fermont.

During this scene, Mlle. de Fermont, still in a swoon, had been attended
to by Clemence and the two nuns. Saint-Remy said in a low tone to
Clemence:

"And the mother of this unhappy girl, madame?"

The marchioness replied, in a voice deeply affected:

"She has no longer a mother, sir. I learnt yesterday only, on my return,
the address of Madame de Fermont, and her dying condition; at one
o'clock in the morning I went to her with a medical man. Ah, sir, what a
fiction! It was misery in all its horror! And no hope of saving the poor
mother, whose last words were, 'My daughter!'"

"What a death! Good heaven! And she so tender, so devoted a mother,--it
is frightful!"

"I will watch her until she can be moved," said Clemence, "and, when she
can be removed, I will take her with me."

"Ah, madame, bless you for what you say and do!" said M. de Saint-Remy.
"But excuse me for not having before mentioned my name to you, I am the
Comte de Saint-Remy; Madame de Fermont's husband was my most intimate
friend. I live at Angers, and left that city from uneasiness at not
receiving any news of these two noble and excellent women; they had
until then lived in that city, and were said to be completely ruined,
which was the more terrible as until then they had lived in ease and
plenty."

"Ah, sir! you do not know all; Madame de Fermont was shamefully robbed."

"By her notary, perhaps? I had my suspicions."

"That man was a monster, sir! Alas! that was not the only crime he
committed; but fortunately," said Clemence, with excitement, as she
thought of Rodolph, "a providential genius had compelled him to do
justice, and I was enabled to close Madame de Fermont's eyes, assuring
her as to the future provision for her daughter; thus her death was
rendered less cruel."

"I understand; knowing her daughter to have your support henceforth, my
poor friend died more tranquil."

"Not only is my interest excited for ever towards Mlle. de Fermont, but
her fortune will be restored to her."

"Her fortune! The notary--"

"Has been compelled to refund the money. This man had caused the
assassination of Madame de Fermont's brother, in order to make it appear
that the unhappy man had committed suicide, after having dissipated his
sister's fortune; but he has now placed the sum in the hands of the
worthy cure of Bonne-Nouvelle, and it will be given to Mlle. de Fermo