"Oh! stop; you see, this will be the grief of all my life, Louise--of all my life," answered the artisan, weeping. "You in prison--in the dock--you, so proud-when you had the right to be so. No," continued he, in a new access of desperate grief, "no, I should prefer to seeing you under the winding-sheet, alongside your poor little sister." "And I, also, wish it were so," answered Louise. "Hush, unfortunate child, you give me pain. I was wrong to say that; I went too far. Come, speak, but tell the truth. However frightful it may be, tell me all. If I hear it from you, it will appear less cruel to me. Speak; alas! our moments are counted; you are waited for. Oh! the sad, sad parting." "My father, I will tell you all," said Louise, resolutely; "but promise me, and you, our benefactor, promise also, not to repeat this to any one. If he knew that I had spoken, do you see--oh! you would be lost--lost like me; for you do not know the power and ferocity of this man." "Of what man?" "My master." "The notary?" "Yes," said Louise, in a low tone, and looking around her, as if she were afraid of being overheard. "Compose yourself," answered Rudolph. "This man is cruel and powerful, but no matter; we will face him. Besides, if I reveal what you are about to tell us, it will be only in your interest or in that of your father." "And, Louise, if I speak, it will be to try to save you. But what has this wicked man done?" "This is not all," said Louise, after a moment's reflection; "this sad tale concerns some one who has rendered me a great service--who has been for my father and family full of kindness--this person was employed at M. Ferrand's when I went; I have sworn not to mention the name." "If you mean Francois Germain, be easy; his secret will be kept by your father and myself," said Rudolph. Louise looked at Rudolph with surprise. "You know him?" said she. "The good and excellent young man who lived here for three months, and was employed at the notary's when you went there?" said Morel. "The first time you saw him here you appeared not to know him." "That was agreed upon between us. He had grave reasons to conceal that he worked for M. Ferrand. It was I who told him of the chamber on the fourth story, knowing he would be a good neighbor for you." "But," said Rudolph, "who placed your daughter with the notary?" "When my wife was taken sick, I had said to Madame Burette, the pawnbroker, who lives in this house, that Louise wished to go to service to aid us. Madame Burette knew the housekeeper of the notary; she gave me a letter to her, in which she strongly recommended Louise. Cursed--cursed be that letter; it has caused all our misfortunes. So, sir, this is the way my daughter went there."