"My daughter, as you were then attending the convent school I felt it my duty to deny Giovanni Massetti's solicitation, nay, his ardent, impetuous prayer, but I did not deprive him of all hope; I gave him permission to urge his suit with you personally after a year from that time had elapsed. Did I do right?" Zuleika maintained silence, but blushed and trembled more than ever, while her heart fluttered so that she placed her hand upon her breast to still it. "Come, come, my daughter, answer me," said the Deputy, kindly, "did I do right? Tell me what your little heart says." "I do not know, oh! I do not know!" cried Zuleika, bursting into tears. "There, there now," said her father, soothingly; "I did not mean either to frighten or wound you. If the Viscount is displeasing to you I will answer his letter to-morrow and tell him as gently as possible that he has no hope of winning your hand." "What! have you received a letter from Giovanni?" exclaimed Zuleika, with sudden interest, her tears vanishing instantly and her pretty face brightening up. "Ho! ho!" said M. Dantes to himself, "Mademoiselle has waked up in earnest now." Then he added aloud: "Yes, one came this afternoon. The Viscount is in Paris, and has claimed the privilege I accorded him a year ago, provided you interposed no objection. However, the matter can speedily be settled. Young Massetti is a man of honor, and will not for an instant think of troubling with his attentions a lady to whom they cannot prove acceptable." "Oh! papa, papa, don't tell him that; he wouldn't come here if you did; besides, did--did--did I ever tell you that Giovanni's attentions would prove unacceptable to me?" "No, not in so many words," answered M. Dantes, archly, "but I inferred as much from your manner and tears just now. So I am to understand that you do not want me to reply to the Viscount's letter, am I?" "Oh! yes, I want you to reply to his letter, but--but----" "But what, darling?" "I do not wish you to tell him there is no hope!" "You think there is hope, then?" "I--I--am afraid so, dear papa!" "Yet a moment ago you told me you had no lover, and were merely a little girl!" "I did not know then that Giovanni was in Paris, and I--I--thought he had forgotten all about me." M. Dantes smiled as he said: "That makes all the difference in the world, doesn't it, Mademoiselle?" "Yes," answered Zuleika, innocently; then she added in a tone of great earnestness: "Write to Giovanni in the morning, and--and tell him I shall be delighted to see him." "I will write and inform him that, so far as I have been able to discover, my daughter does not object to receiving a visit from him." "Oh! that would be too cold and formal, and Giovanni is such an old friend." "Well, well," said M. Dantes, "I will so frame my reply as to give entire satisfaction both to you and him. Now, my child, kiss me and retire to your couch, for it is very, very late."