"I have no idea," replied Charles de Morlay dryly.
Albert turned on his heel, delighted to see the Duke out of humour.
Genevieve caught up with Andromeda who was running away out of breath, seeing nothing, hearing nothing. Genevieve saw her enter the grove leading to the clearing and there she joined her.
"Esperance, my darling, my little sister, stop, I beg you."
Her voice calmed the girl. She caught hold of one of the branches and clung to it, gasping.
Her eyes shone with a wild light. She seemed to be absolutely exalted.
"And I love him." And she threw herself in her friend's arms. "I am as happy as you now, for I love.... The thick cloud that hung over everything is gone. Everything is bright and beautiful. This dark grove is sparkling with sunlight and...?"
"Little sister, you are raving. Your pulse is racing with fever. We must go back. Think of poor Albert."
Esperance drew herself up proudly, replying, "I will never betray him, I will tell the truth, and I will become the wife of the Duke."
"You are talking wildly, dearest, the Duke will not marry you."
"Albert will enter the Chartist Monastery and the Countess Styvens will die of sorrow."
"The Countess Styvens," said Esperance slowly.
As the sweet face of the mother came before her mind's eye she began to tremble all over.
Maurice had followed the girls into the grove, and he found them now in each other's arms.
"Genevieve," said Esperance, "not a word of what I have said!"
"Have you both gone crazy? They are looking everywhere for Esperance for the 'Judgment of Paris,' and here you are congratulating and kissing each other!"
"Cousin, I needed the air, don't scold. Genevieve looked for me and found me before anybody else, and I kissed her because I love her most."
"And now he is going to give you an apple."
"Then," she said very prettily, "I must try to deserve it. Come help me to make myself beautiful."
Maurice remained rooted to the spot. Somehow he guessed what sudden change had operated upon his cousin's spirit. Something must have taken place in the corridor between these two! He murmured sadly, "Poor Albert, poor little cousin!"
The young Count appeared before him in his most radiant humour.
"I have just met Esperance," he said. "She was joyous, brilliant, I have never before seen her so happy!"