ou have escaped them. They will pursue you; they
will employ the police; they will search for you all over France. Now,
it is evident, that the very first place where they will look for you
will be Daniel's relatives. The house of the old aunt will be watched
at once, and most jealously. How can you there escape from inquiry and
pursuit? It would be folly to hope for safety there."

Pensively Henrietta hung her head. Then she said,--

"Perhaps you are right, sir."

"Now," continued M. de Brevan, "let us see what they would do if they
should discover you. You are not of age, consequently you are entirely
dependent on the will of your father. Under the inspiration of your
step-mother, he would attack Daniel's aunt, on the score of having
inveigled a minor, and would bring you back here."

She seemed to reflect; then she said suddenly,--"I can implore the
assistance of the Duchess of Champdoce."

"Unfortunately, madam, they told you the truth. For a year now, the Duke
of Champdoce and his wife have been travelling in Italy."

A gesture of despair betrayed the terrible dejection of the poor girl.

"Great God!" she said, "what must I do?"

A passing smile appeared on the face of M. de Brevan; and he answered in
his most persuasive manner,--

"Will you permit me to offer you some advice, madam?"

"Alas, sir! I beg you to do so for Heaven's sake."

"Well, this is the only plan that seems to me feasible. To-morrow
morning I will rent in a quiet house a suitable lodging, less than
modest, a little chamber. You will move into it, and await there your
coming of age, or Daniel's return. No detective will ever think of
seeking the daughter of Count Ville-Handry in a poor needlewoman's
garret."

"And I am to stay there alone, forsaken and lost?"

"It is a sacrifice which it seems to me you have to make for safety's
sake."

She said nothing, weighing the two alternatives,--to remain in the
house, or to accept M. de Brevan's proposition. After a minute she
said,--

"I will follow your advice, sir; only"--She was evidently painfully
embarrassed, and covered with blushes.

"You see," she said, after long hesitation, "all this will cost money.
Formerly I used to have always a couple of hundred dollars in my drawers
somewhere; but now"--

"Madam," broke in M. de Brevan, "madam, is not my whole fortune entirely
at your disposal?"

"To be sure, I have my jewels; and they are quite valuable."

"For that very reason yo