goes out on foot, like
a simple citizen's wife; and more than once I have caught her preparing
our modest meals with her own hands."

Tears were flowing down the furrowed cheeks, leaving ghastly lines on
the rouged and whitened surface.

"And I," he resumed in an accent of deepest despair,--"I could not
reward her for such love and so many sacrifices. How did I compensate
her for being my only consolation, my joy, my sole happiness in life! I
ruined her; I impoverished her! If I were to die to-morrow, she would be
penniless."

Daniel trembled.

"Ah, count," he exclaimed, "don't speak of dying! People like you live a
hundred years."

But the old man lowered his voice, and said,--

"You see, I have not told you all yet. But you are my friend; and I know
I can open my heart to you. _I_ did not have the--the--cleverness to
overcome all the restrictions which hamper this kind of business. I was
imprudent, in spite of all Sir Thorn's warnings. To-morrow there will be
a meeting of the stockholders; and, if they do not grant me what I shall
have to ask of them, I may be in trouble. And, when a man calls himself
Count Ville-Handry, rather than appear in a police-court--you know what
I mean!"

He was interrupted by one of the clerks, who brought him a letter. He
read it, and said,--

"Tell them I am coming."

Then, turning again to Daniel, he added,--

"I must leave you; but the countess is at home, and she would never
forgive me if I did not take you in to present your respects to her.
Come! But be careful and don't say a word of my troubles. It would kill
her."

And, before Daniel could recover from his bewilderment, the count had
opened a door, and pushed him into the room, saying,--

"Sarah, M. Champcey."

Sarah started up as if she had received an electric shock. Her husband
had left them; but, even if he had been still in the room, she would
probably not have been any more able to control herself.

"You!" she cried, "Daniel, my Daniel!"

And turning to Mrs. Brian, who was sitting by the window, she said,--

"Leave us."

"Your conduct is perfectly shocking, Sarah!" began the grim lady. But
Sarah, as harshly as if she had been speaking to a servant, cut her
short, saying,--

"You are in the way, and I beg you will leave the room."

Mrs. Brian did so without saying a word; and the countess sank into an
arm-chair, as if overcome by a sudden good fortune which she was not
able to endure, looking intens