"I will tell you all that uncle, later, but the how and the why are not very important at this moment. I want you to send for Albert. Esperance does not wish to marry him. She has loved the Duke a long time, but did not know that he loved her, and did not suppose an alliance possible between our families, even though you have made the name illustrious. For that matter I should never have supposed myself that the Duke would consent to make what would generally be considered a mésalliance." "It all seems unbelievable," murmured François. And with his head in his hands he groaned despairingly, "How can we sacrifice that noble and unfortunate Albert?" "One of the three must suffer, uncle. It would be a crime to sacrifice Esperance who has the right to love whom she pleases and to choose her own life. The Duke Morlay is loved, Count Albert is not and never has been. He knows it as you know it now. Esperance consented to marry him through gratitude to you." "Ah! I feared as much," said the professor prostrated. François Darbois remained a long time in thought, then he got up, his face lined with sadness. "Tell your cousin to come to me, I will wait for her here." "I will send her to you at once. Forgive me for having so distressed you, dear uncle." "It was your duty!" François pressed his hand affectionately. Left alone he felt despairing. The futility of the precautions he had taken, the inanity of all reasoning, of all logic, plunged him into the scepticism he had been combatting for so many years. Maurice found his cousin talking to Albert, the Marquis of Montagnac, and Genevieve. "Your father is feeling a little indisposed and is going to bed. Would not you like to say good-night to him?" Esperance rose immediately. Albert wanted to go with her, but Maurice held him back, and began asking under what conditions he proposed to play the duet with Esperance next day. "It is all one to me," replied the Count wearily. "I am in a hurry to get away from here. I find myself too much disturbed by my nerves, and you know, cousin, how unusual it is for me to be nervous." At this term of family familiarity, Maurice shivered. He thought of the interview now taking place in his uncle's room. Genevieve joined them and they strolled up and down, but Albert made them return continually near the tower. When Esperance opened the door of the little salon where her father was waiting, she saw him in such an attitude of distress that she threw herself at his knees. "Father, darling father, I ask your pardon. I am ruining your life just as you begin to reap the harvest of so many noble efforts. You have been so good to me," she sobbed, "and I must seem to you so ungrateful. Do not suffer so, I beg you. Take me away with you, let us go and I will do my best to forget; let us go!" "But," said the Professor, hesitatingly, "Albert would follow." The girl rose.