"Marie, I am ignorant of what you know, and I shall not ask," he continued. "I have been very criminal toward you, but perhaps less so than you think. Terrible circumstances bound me with iron bands. Fate ruled me! But I seek no palliation. Judge me as severely as you wish; but I beg of you to calm yourself--preserve yourself! You spoke to me this morning of your presentiments--of your maternal hopes. Attach yourself to those thoughts, and you will always be mistress of your life. As for myself, I shall be whatever you will--a stranger or a friend. But now I feel that my presence makes you ill. I would leave you for the present, but not alone. Do you wish Madame Jaubert to come to you tonight?" "Yes!" she murmured, faintly. "I shall go for her; but it is not necessary to tell you that there are confidences one must reserve even from one's dearest friends." "Except a mother?" She murmured the question with a supplicating agony very painful to see. He grew still paler. After an instant, "Except a mother!" he said. "Be it so!" She turned her face and buried it in the pillow. "Your mother arrives to-morrow, does she not?" She made an affirmative motion of her head. "You can make your arrangements with her. I shall accept everything." "Thank you," she replied, feebly. He left the room and went to find Madame Jaubert, whom he awakened, and briefly told her that his wife had been seized with a severe nervous attack--the effect of a chill. The amiable little woman ran hastily to her friend and spent the night with her. But she was not the dupe of the explanation Camors had given her. Women quickly understand one another in their grief. Nevertheless she asked no confidences and received none; but her tenderness to her friend redoubled. During the silence of that terrible night, the only service she could render her was to make her weep. Nor did those laggard hours pass less bitterly for M. de Camors. He tried to take no rest, but walked up and down his apartment until daylight in a sort of frenzy. The distress of this poor child wounded him to the heart. The souvenirs of the past rose before him and passed in sad procession. Then the morrow would show him the crushed daughter with her mother--and such a mother! Mortally stricken in all her best illusions, in all her dearest beliefs, in all connected with the happiness of life! He found that he still had in his heart lively feelings of pity; still some remorse in his conscience. This weakness irritated him, and he denounced it to himself. Who had betrayed him? This question agitated him to an equal degree; but from the first instant he had not been deceived in this matter.