Camors was the first to come to the rescue, and taking his hand, said:  “Accept, my dear General, my congratulations.  I am extremely happy, and rejoice at your good fortune; the more so, as I feel the lady is so well worthy of you.”  Then, bowing to Mademoiselle d’Estrelles with a grave grace, he pressed her hand, and turning away, was struck dumb at seeing Madame de la Roche-Jugan in the arms of the General.  She passed from his into those of Mademoiselle d’Estrelles, who feared at first, from the violence of the caresses, that there was a secret design to strangle her.

“General,” said Madame de la Roche-Jugan in a plaintive voice, “you remember I always recommended her to you.  I always spoke well of her.  She is my daughter—­my second child.  Sigismund, embrace your sister!  You permit it, General?  Ah, we never know how much we love these children until we lose them!  I always spoke well of her; did I not—­Ge—­General?” And here Madame de la Roche-Jugan burst into tears.

The General, who began to entertain a high opinion of the Countess’s heart, declared that Mademoiselle d’Estrelles would find in him a friend and father.  After which flattering assurance, Madame de la Roche-Jugan seated herself in a solitary corner, behind a curtain, whence they heard sobs and moans issue for a whole hour.  She could not even breakfast; happiness had taken away her appetite.

The ice once broken, all tried to make themselves agreeable.  The Tonneliers did not behave, however, with the same warmth as the tender Countess, and it was easy to see that Mesdames Bacquiere and Van Cuyp could not picture to themselves, without envy, the shower of gold and diamonds about to fall into the lap of their cousin.  Messrs. Bacquiere and Van-Cuyp were naturally the first sufferers, and their charming wives made them understand, at intervals during the day, that they thoroughly despised them.  It was a bitter Sunday for those poor fellows.  The Tonnelier family also felt that little more was to be done there, and left the next morning with a very cold adieu.

The conduct of the Countess was more noble.  She declared she would wait upon her dearly beloved Charlotte from the altar to the very threshold of the nuptial chamber; that she would arrange her trousseau, and that the marriage should take place from her house.

“Deuce take me, my dear Countess!” cried the General, “I must declare one thing—­you astonish me.  I was unjust, cruelly unjust, toward you.  I reproach myself, on my faith!  I believed you worldly, interested, not open-hearted.  But you are none of these; you are an excellent woman—­a heart of gold—­a noble soul!  My dear friend, you have found the best way to convert me.  I have always believed the religion of honor was sufficient for a man—­eh, Camors?  But I am not an unbeliever, my dear Countess, and, on my sacred word, when I see a perfect creature like you, I desire to believe everything she believes, if only to be pleasant to her!”