her communication;
but tell me, had you been in my place, would you not have acted in the
same manner?"

"I think that I should."

"And now we are friends, are we not?" and again De Breulh held out his
hand, which Andre clasped with enthusiasm.

"Yes, yes," faltered he.

"And now," continued De Breulh, with a forced smile, "let us say no more
about the picture, which was, after all, merely a pretext. As I came
here I said to myself, 'If the man to whom Mademoiselle de Mussidan has
given her heart is worthy of her, I will do all I can to advance his
suit with her family!' I came here to see what you were like; and now
I say to you, do me a great honor, and permit me to place myself, my
fortune, and the influence of my friends, at your disposal."

The offer was made in perfect good faith, but Andre shook his head.

"I shall never forget your kindness in making this offer, but----"; he
paused for a moment, and then went on: "I will be as open as you have
been, and will tell you the whole truth. You may think me foolish; but
remember, though I am poor, I have still my self-respect to maintain. I
love Sabine, and would give my life for her. Do not be offended at what
I am about to say. I would, however, sooner give up her hand than be
indebted for it to you."

"But this is mere madness."

"No, sir, it is the purest wisdom; for were I to accede to your wishes,
I should feel deeply humiliated by the thought of your self-denial; for
I should be madly jealous of the part you were playing. You are of high
birth and princely fortune, while I am utterly friendless and unknown;
all that I am deficient in you possess."

"But I have been poor myself," interposed De Breulh, "and perhaps
endured even greater miseries than ever you have done. Do you know what
I was doing at your age? I was slowly starving to death at Sonora, and
had to take the humblest position in a cattle ranch. Do you think that
those days taught me nothing?"

"You will be able to judge me all the more clearly then," returned
Andre. "If I raise myself up to Sabine's level, as she begged me to,
then I shall feel that I am your equal; but if I accept your aid, I am
your dependent; and I will obey her wishes or perish in the effort."

Up to this moment the passion which stirred Andre's inmost soul had
breathed in every word he uttered; but, checking himself by a mighty
effort, he resumed in a tone of greater calmness,--

"But I ought to remember how much w