"Suppose you were informed of every particular, by some unheard--of prodigy, of the future destiny of a person utterly indifferent to you, whom you do not even know. This prescience might acquaint you that this person would die in eight days,--die by some fatal occurrence, although you would not, in the slightest way, be mixed up in the causes of this death, or in any way profit by it, or without your being able to change the course of events which lead to it; yet would you not feel a kind of agony at this disclosure; would you not consider yourself as in some way mixed up with this result when you saw the person ignorant of the terrible fate in store whilst you were cognisant of it?" "I should not think myself an accomplice in this death, but I should feel much horror at seeing that person advance, confident and tranquil, towards an abyss of which he knew nothing." "Well! would not your horror become remorse if this person were your own husband, and if his destiny fulfilled your every wish, realised your every hope?" "What do you mean?" "How innocent soever you might be of such a catastrophe, should you not consider yourself as almost criminal,--only because you were informed beforehand? Again, do not ask me any more; do not compel me to speak! You will repent it when too late. Rely on me!" "Rely on you? No, no, I know what you are capable of. I was entirely innocent of your horrible attempts on M. de Hansfeld, yet appearances condemned me, yet I tell you I wish to know all." "Have you resolved on renouncing M. de Morville?" "What has that to do with it?" "I must know this--for in this case only ought I to speak to you. It would be cruel to allow two creatures of God to perish for nothing." "Then the life of two persons would be endangered?" cried Madame de Hansfeld. "Wretched me! wretched you!" said Iris, much distressed, or appearing to be so, at her indiscretion. "You make me say what I did not wish to utter. Well, yet at this moment, the lives of two persons are in jeopardy." "Thank God! you have been compelled to speak out: I will never buy the happiness of my whole life at such a price. I renounce M. de Morville! And may I be accursed if I ever----" "Stay, godmother! I know the strength of your scruples, but I know, too, the strength of your love; although the lives of two persons may be in jeopardy, you may be accursed." "Wretched girl!" "Stay, godmother! let us leave events to follow their course--what will be will be!" "Now you have filled my soul with affright, for I know of what you are capable: you seek to be silent. No--no--speak--I desire--I command you!"