"The same,--daughter of the Prince de Noirmont. He knew her when she was very young, and treated her almost always as if she were his own child, for he was on terms of the closest intimacy with the prince. Madame de Lucenay must have many acquaintances, and, no doubt, could easily find situations for us."
"No doubt, mamma. But I understand your delicacy; you do not know her, whilst, at least, my father and my uncle both knew a little of M. d'Orbigny."
"Well, but in case Madame de Lucenay cannot do anything for us, I have still another resource."
"A very poor one,--a very weak hope, perhaps. But why should I not try it? M. de Saint-Remy's son is--"
"Has M. de Saint-Remy a son?" exclaimed Claire, interrupting her mother with great astonishment.
"Yet he never spoke of him when he used to come to Angers."
"True, and, for reasons which you cannot understand, M. de Saint-Remy, having quitted Paris fifteen years ago, has not seen his son since that period."
"Fifteen years without seeing his father! Is that possible?"
"Alas, yes! As you see, the son of M. de Saint-Remy, being very much sought after in society, and very rich--"
"All young M. de Saint-Remy's wealth came from his mother."
"What of that,--how could he leave his father?"
"His father would not accept anything from him."
"That is a question to which I cannot reply, my dear child; but I have heard it said by my poor brother that this young man was reputed vastly generous. Young and generous, he ought to be good. Learning from me that my husband had been his father's intimate friend, perhaps he will interest himself in trying to find us work or employment. He has such high and extensive connections, that this would be no trouble to him."
"And then, perhaps, too, we could learn from him if M. de Saint-Remy, his father, had not quitted Angers before you wrote to him: that would account for his silence."
"I think, my dear, that M. de Saint-Remy has not kept up any connection with--Still, we cannot but try."
"Unless M. d'Orbigny replies to you favourably, and I repeat, I don't know why, but I have hopes, in spite of myself."
"It is now many days, my dear, since I wrote to him, telling him all the causes of our misfortunes, and yet to this time we have no reply,--none. A letter put in the post before four o'clock in the evening reaches Aubiers next morning, and thus we might have had his answer five days ago."