"What kind of information do you desire?" asked M. Felix. "When I was ill and very near to death," she replied; "when reason had forsaken me and I was lying stricken down, Gerald and you came to me in the place where afterward a civil ceremony was performed which I had every right to believe made me an honorably married woman. Tell me the name of that place. It is little to ask, but I ask no more. If you have a spark of compassion in you, tell me this, and I will go away blessing you." "You do not remember it?" said M. Felix, with triumph in his eyes. "God help me, I have not the least remembrance of it, nor of the roads I took which led me to it." M. Felix stepped to the window and threw it open. Then he cried in as loud a voice as he could command: "Help!" "Why do you cry for help?" asked Emilia, advancing toward him. "Do not come nearer to me," he replied, "or I will strangle you. Why do I cry for help? To bring the police here--to give you into custody--to expose and brand you as you deserve to be exposed and branded. How you forced your way into this house I do not know: perhaps you have been in hiding until you were assured I was alone. You come here to rob and murder. I will swear to it." Again he called from the window, "Help!" Frozen with terror Emilia stood like a statue, white with the fear of a horrible exposure which would blast her and her child forever in this world. "You talk of ruin," snarled M. Felix. "It is upon you now. Disguised as a man you steal upon me here for a vile purpose. You will go away blessing me, will you? What do I care for your blessing or your curse? I will make your name a byword of shame, as it has been made before!" For the third time he sent out into the night his cry for "Help!" Emilia's strength returned to her; she was able to speak once more. "I will go," she said. "You shall not have the opportunity of still further disgracing me. But I will not rest till the truth is made clear to me--not with your help, but with the help of"---- "Of whom?" asked M. Felix, with a sneer. She had intended to say "with the help of God," but an inspiration fell upon her which impelled her to utter a name almost as hateful to her as that of Leonard. "With the help of Dr. Peterssen. If you can ruin me, he has it in his power to ruin you."