"Always," answered Madeleine, smiling again.
"I have every reason to believe that she does."
"And you have influence with her," joined in Bertha, suspecting the count's drift, and feeling desirous of aiding him.
"Oh, how fortunate!" cried Bertha; "you maybe of the greatest service to our cousin, Count Tristan." She took the letter out of his hand, and placing it in Madeleine's, added, "Beg Madame de Fleury to read this letter, and obtain her promise that she will use her influence with the Marquis de Fleury to cause Mr. Gobert,--Gobert, that's his name, is it not?" appealing to the count,--"to cause Mr. Gobert to vote as herein instructed. See, how well I have explained that matter! I really believe I have an undeveloped talent for business."
"The letter should reach Madame de Fleury this morning. The appeal should be made to the marquis _to-day_,--_this very day!_" urged the count.
"It shall be!" replied Madeleine, with quiet confidence.
"What, my son, you are willing to solicit the interference of Mademoiselle de Gramont, without knowing how and where she has passed her time, how she has lived since she fled from the Château de Gramont? I refuse my consent to such a proceeding."
"Aunt,--madame," returned Madeleine, in a gently pleading voice, "do not deprive me of the pleasure of serving you. Humble and unworthy instrument that I am, leave me that happiness."
"If the marchioness would only grant me a few moments' interview this morning," said Count Tristan, who evidently doubted the strength of Madeleine's advocacy.
"I promise that she _will_ grant you an interview this morning," replied Madeleine, interrupting him.
The _femme de chambre_ now reëntered and said, "Madame is impatient at this delay; every moment seems an hour."
"Say that I will be with her immediately," answered Madeleine. She then addressed the count: "Have no fears,--you may depend upon me; the countess will receive you the moment her toilet is completed."
Madeleine once more embraced Bertha, once more extended her hand to Maurice, who stood bewildered, dismayed, looking half petrified, and passed out of the room.
As soon as she had disappeared, Bertha broke forth joyously, "Well, aunt, what do you think _now_ of our Madeleine? Is not this magic? Is not this a fairy-like _denouement_? She disappears from the Château de Gramont as though the earth had opened to swallow her; no trace of her could be discovered for nearly five years, and suddenly she rises up in our very midst, a grand lady, enveloped in a cloud of mystery, and working as many wonders as a veritable witch. She leaves us poor, friendless, dependent; she returns to us rich, powerful, and with influential friends ready to serve those who once protected her. But I think I have found the key to the enigma. Did we not hear strict orders given that none but the Countess Orlowski should be admitted? Well, Madeleine was at once allowed to enter: it follows, beyond doubt, that she is the Countess Orlowski."