Zebiline, vol 2 | Page 5

return to you your autograph letter for the price of these fifteen tickets. Go--and sin again, should your heart prompt you!"
"But that is a species of blackmail, Madame!" cried Madame Desvanneaux.
"The end justifies the means," replied the Vicomtesse gayly. "Besides, I am accountable only to the Duc de Montgeron. What is his opinion?"
"I call it a very clever stroke," said the Duke.
"You hear, Madame! Only, of course, not every lady has a collection of similar little notes!" said the Vicomtesse de Nointel.
The entrance of M. Durand, treasurer of the society, interrupted the progress of this correspondence.
"Do not trouble yourselves so much, Mesdames," said the notary. "The practical solution of the matter I am about to lay before you, if Madame the president will permit me to speak."
"I should think so!" said the Duchess. "Speak, by all means!"
"A charitable person has offered to assume all the expenses of the affair," said the notary, "on condition that carte blanche is granted to her in the matter of the site. In case her offer is accepted, she will make over to the society, within three months, the title to the real estate, in regular order."
"Do you guarantee the solvency of this person?" demanded M. Desvanneaux, who saw the project of the kermess falling to the ground.
"It is one of my rich clients; but I have orders not to reveal her name unless her offer is accepted."
The unanimity with which all hands were raised did not even give time to put the question.
"Her name?" demanded the Duchess.
"Here it is," replied the notary, handing her a visiting card.
"'Valentine de Vermont,'" she read aloud.
"Zibeline?" cried Madame de Nointel. "Bravo! I offer her the assurance of my esteem!"
"And I also," added Madame de Lisieux.
"I can not offer mine," said Madame Desvanneaux, dryly. "A young woman who is received nowhere!"
"So generous an act should open all doors to her, beginning with mine," said the Duchesse de Montgeron. "I beg that you will tell her so from me, Monsieur Durand."
"At once, Madame. She is waiting below in her carriage."
"Why did you not say so before? I must beg her myself to join us here," said the master of the house, leaving the room in haste.
"See how any one can purchase admission to our world in these days!" whispered Madame Desvanneaux in her daughter's ear.
"Heavens! yes, dear mother! The only question is whether one is able to pay the price."
We must render justice to the two titled patronesses by saying that the immediate admission of Mademoiselle de Vermont to their circle seemed to them the least they could do, and that they greeted her appearance, as she entered on the arm of the Duke, with a sympathetic murmur which put the final stroke to the exasperation of the two malicious dames.
"You are very welcome here, Mademoiselle," said the Duchess, advancing to greet her guest. "I am delighted to express to you, in behalf of all these ladies, the profound gratitude with which your generous aid inspires them!"
"It is more than I deserve, Madame la Duchesse!" said Valentine. "The important work in which they have taken the initiative is so interesting that each of us should contribute to it according to his means. I am alone in Paris, without relatives or friends, and these ladies have furnished me the means to cure my idleness; so it is I, rather, who am indebted to them."
Whether this speech were studied or not, it was pronounced to be in very good taste, and the stranger's conquest of the assemblage was more and more assured.
"Since you wish to join us," resumed the Duchess, "allow me to present to you these gentlemen: Monsieur Desvanneaux, our zealous general secretary--"
"I have already had the pleasure of seeing Monsieur at my house," said Valentine, "also Madame Desvanneaux; and although I was unable to accede to their wishes, I retain, nevertheless, the pleasantest recollections of their visit."
"Good hit!" whispered Madame de Nointel to her neighbor.
"The Marquis de Prerolles, my brother," the Duchess continued.
"The smiles of Fortune must be sweet, Mademoiselle," said the General, bowing low.
"Not so sweet as those of Glory, General," Zibeline replied, with a pretty air of deference.
"She possesses a decidedly ready wit," said Madame de Lisieux in a confidential aside.
"Now, ladies," added the president, "I believe that the best thing we can do is to leave everything in the hands of Mademoiselle and our treasurer. The examination of the annual resources will be the object of the next meeting. For to-day, the meeting is adjourned."
Then, as Mademoiselle de Vermont was about to mingle with the other ladies, the Duchess detained her an instant, inquiring:
"Have you any engagement for this evening, Mademoiselle?"
"None, Madame."
"Will you do us the honor to join us in my box at the opera?"
"But--I have no one to accompany me," said Zibeline. "I dismissed my