"Ah, and I never dreamed of any of these things! I was mad! Joy had
blinded my eyes completely."

But the old gentleman beckoned to him to say nothing, and with an almost
imperious gesture went on,--

"Oh, wait! I have not yet shown you the most urgent danger: Count
Ville-Handry, who, when you knew him, had, I know not how many millions,
is completely ruined. Of all he once owned, of his lands, forests,
castles, deeds, and bonds, there is nothing left. His last cent, his
last rod of land, has been taken from him. You left him living like a
prince in his forefathers' palace: you will find him vegetating in
the fourth story of a lodging-house. You know, that, being poor, he is
deemed guilty. The day is drawing near when Sarah Brandon will get rid
of him, as she has gotten rid of Kergrist, of Malgat the poor
cashier, and others. The means are at hand. Already the name of
Count Ville-Handry is seriously compromised. The company which he has
established is breaking to pieces; and the papers hold him up to public
contempt. If he cannot pay to-day, he will be to-morrow accused of
fraudulent bankruptcy. Now, I ask you, is the count a man who will
survive such a disgrace?"

For some time Henrietta had been unable to suppress her sobs; under this
terrible threat she broke out in loud weeping.

"Ah, sir!" she said, "you have misled me. You assured me that my
father's life was in no danger."

"And I promise you still, it is not in danger. Would I be here, if I did
not think that Sarah was not quite ready yet?"

Daniel, also, had suffered terribly during this discussion; and he now
said passionately,--

"Would it not be a crime for us to think, to wait, and to calculate,
when such great dangers are impending? Come, sir, let us go"--

"Where?"

"Ah, how do I know? Into court, to the count, to a lawyer who can advise
us. There must be something that can be done."

The old dealer did not stir.

"Poor, honest young man!" he said with an accent of bitter irony. "And
what could we tell the lawyer? That Sarah Brandon has made an old man,
the Count Ville-Handry, fall madly in love with her? That is no crime.
That she has made him marry her? That was her right. That the count
has launched forth in speculations? She opposed it. That he understood
nothing of business? She could not help that. That he has been duped,
cheated, and finally ruined in two short years? Apparently she is as
much ruined as he is. That, in order to delay