A Girl of High Adventure by L.T. Meade

But little Margot was not to get off quite so easily. She was to have her _trials_ the same as other people. There was not the slightest doubt whatsoever that Margot had a nature far above the ordinary. It was strong, it was brave, it had a sort of noble simplicity about it. She was proud of her race, both on her father's and her mother's side, but she could not see the slightest harm in assisting _la belle_ grand'mère with the _établissement_. She did see, however, a good deal of harm in annoying, nay more, in seriously injuring, the lives of two dear old men, both of them in their own way the dearest old men in the world. Of course The Desmond was the best of all -- he was grand, noble, superb; but there was also something _très magnifique_, according to _la belle_ grand'mère, in Monsieur le Comte St. Juste. He was so feeble, too, and so old; he must not be hurt for anything in the world.

Margot thought nothing whatsoever about her supposed _dot_, but she sympathised with la belle grand'mère in keeping all knowledge of _le magasin_ from M. le Comte. The little Madame idolised the sweet girl, and poured her troubles into those sympathetic ears.