ou acquired an
opportunity to help him; and yet you seem to be against him."

Every word Claire uttered fell upon M. Daburon's heart like a slap on
his face. Was it really she who was speaking? Whence came this sudden
boldness, which made her choose all those words which found an echo in
his heart?

"Mademoiselle," said he, "your grief has been too much for you. From you
alone could I pardon what you have just said. Your ignorance of things
makes you unjust. If you think that Albert's fate depends upon my
pleasure, you are mistaken. To convince me is nothing; it is necessary
to convince others. That I should believe you is all very natural, I
know you. But what weight will others attach to your testimony, when
you go to them with a true story--most true, I believe, but yet highly
improbable?"

Tears came into Claire's eyes.

"If I have unjustly offended you, sir," said she, "pardon me; my
unhappiness makes me forget myself."

"You cannot offend me, mademoiselle," replied the magistrate. "I have
already told you that I am devoted to your service."

"Then sir, help me to prove the truth of what I have said. I will tell
you everything."

M. Daburon was fully convinced that Claire was seeking to deceive him;
but her confidence astonished him. He wondered what fable she was about
to concoct.

"Sir," began Claire, "you know what obstacles have stood in the way of
my marriage with Albert. The Count de Commarin would not accept me for
a daughter-in-law, because I am poor, I possess nothing. It took Albert
five years to triumph over his father's objections. Twice the count
yielded; twice he recalled his consent, which he said had been extorted
from him. At last, about a month ago, he gave his consent of his own
accord. But these hesitations, delays, refusals, had deeply hurt my
grandmother. You know her sensitive nature; and, in this case, I must
confess she was right. Though the wedding day had been fixed, the
marchioness declared that we should not be compromised nor laughed at
again for any apparent haste to contract a marriage so advantageous,
that we had often before been accused of ambition. She decided,
therefore, that, until the publication of the banns, Albert should
only be admitted into the house every other day, for two hours in the
afternoon, and in her presence. We could not get her to alter this
determination. Such was the state of affairs, when, on Sunday morning,
a note came to me from Albert. He told