"My father, I will tell you all,--everything," replied Louise, taking courage; "but promise me--and our kind benefactor must promise me also--not to repeat this to any person,--to any person. If he knew that I had told!--oh," and she shuddered as she spoke, "you would be destroyed, destroyed as I am; for you know not the power and ferocity of this man." "What man?" "My master!" "The notary?" "Yes," said Louise in a whisper, and looking around her as if she feared to be overheard. "Take courage," said Rodolph; "no matter how cruel and powerful this man may be, we will defeat him! Besides, if I reveal what you are about to tell us, it would only be in the interest of yourself or your father." "And me too, Louise, if I speak, it would be in endeavouring to save you. But what has this villain done?" "This is not all," said Louise, after a moment's reflection; "in this recital there will be a person implicated who has rendered me a great service, who has shown the utmost kindness to my father and family; this person was in the employ of M. Ferrand when I entered his service, and he made me take an oath not to disclose his name." Rodolph, believing that she referred to Germain, said to Louise: "If you mean Francois Germain, make your mind tranquil, his secret shall be kept by your father and myself." Louise looked at Rodolph with surprise. "Do you know him?" said she. "What! was the good, excellent young man, who lived here for three months, employed at the notary's when you went to his service?" said Morel. "The first time you met him here, you appeared as if you had never seen him before." "It was agreed between us, father; he had serious reasons why he did not wish it known that he was working at M. Ferrand's. It was I who told him of the room to let on the fourth story here, knowing that he would be a good neighbour for you." "But," inquired Rodolph, "who, then, placed your daughter at the notary's?" "During the illness of my wife, I said to Madame Burette--the woman who advanced money on pledges, who lived in this house--that Louise wished to get into service in order to assist us. Madame Burette knew the notary's housekeeper, and gave me a letter to her, in which she recommended Louise as a very good girl. Cursed letter! it was the cause of all our misfortune. This was the way, sir, that my daughter got into the notary's service." "Although I know some of the causes which excited M. Ferrand's hatred against your father," said Rodolph to Louise, "I beg you to tell me as shortly as possible what passed between you and the notary after your entering into his service; it may, perhaps, be useful for your defence."