“I met her at the bishop’s,” answered Madame de Saint-Dizier, with a slight degree of hesitation, that Mother Sainte-Perpetue did not appear to notice.

“I really do not know,” resumed the latter, “why our establishment should excite so violently the jealousy of the Sacred Heart.  There is not an evil report that they have not spread with regard to St. Mary’s Convent.  Certain persons are always offended by the success of their neighbors!”

“Come, my dear mother,” said the princess, in a conciliating tone, “we must hope that the donation of M. de Brisville will enable you to outbid the Sacred Heart.  This marriage will have a double advantage, you see, my dear mother; it will place a large fortune at the disposal of a man who is devoted to us, and who will employ it as we wish; and it will also greatly increase the importance of his position as our defender, by the addition to his income of 100,000 francs a year.  We shall have at length an organ worthy of our cause, and shall no longer be obliged to look for defenders amongst such people as that Dumoulin.”

“There is great power and much learning in the writings of the man you name.  It is the style of a Saint Bernard, in wrath at the impiety of the age.”

“Alas, my dear mother! if you only knew what a strange Saint Bernard this Dumoulin is!  But I will not offend your ears; all I can tell you is, that such defenders would compromise the most sacred cause.  Adieu, my dear mother! pray redouble your precautions to-night—­the return of this soldier is alarming.”

“Be quite satisfied, my dear daughter!  Oh!  I forgot.  Mdlle.  Florine begged me to ask you a favor.  It is to let her enter your service.  You know the fidelity she displayed in watching your unfortunate niece; I think that, by rewarding her in this way, you will attach her to you completely, and I shall feel grateful on her account.”

“If you interest yourself the least in the world in Florine, my dear mother, the thing is done.  I will take her into my service.  And now it strikes me, she may be more useful to me than I thought.”

“A thousand thanks, my dear daughter, for such obliging attention to my request.  I hope we shall soon meet again.  The day after to-morrow, at two o’clock, we have a long conference with his Eminence and the Bishop; do not forget!”

“No, my dear mother; I shall take care to be exact.  Only, pray, redouble your precautions to-night for fear of a great scandal!”

After respectfully kissing the hand of the superior, the princess went out by the great door, which led to an apartment opening on the principal staircase.  Some minutes after, Florine entered the room by another way.  The superior was seated and Florine approached her with timid humility.

“Did you meet the Princess de Saint-Dizier?” asked Mother Sainte Perpetue.

“No, mother; I was waiting in the passage, where the windows look out on the garden.”