"Ah," cried the young girl, "your life is in danger, and it is thus that you fear to abandon me. Gaston, you betray yourself; you are no longer the Gaston of former days. You met me to-day with a constrained joy; losing me yesterday did not cause you intense sorrow: there are more important prospects in your mind than in your heart. There is something in you--pride, or ambition, more powerful than your love. You turn pale, Gaston; your silence breaks my heart." "Nothing--nothing, Helene, I assure you. Is it surprising that I am troubled to find you here, alone and defenseless, and not know how to protect you; for doubtless this is a man of power. In Bretagne I should have had friends and two hundred peasants to defend me; here I have no one." "Is that all, Gaston?" "That is, it seems to me, more than enough." "No, Gaston, for we will leave this house instantly." Gaston turned pale; Helene lowered her eyes, and placing her hand in that of her lover-- "Before these people who watch us," said she; "before the eyes of this woman, we will go away together." Gaston's eyes lighted up with joy; but somber thoughts quickly clouded them again. Helene watched this changing expression. "Am I not your wife, Gaston?" said she; "is not my honor yours? Let us go." "But where to place you?" said Gaston. "Gaston," replied Helene, "I know nothing, I can do nothing; I am ignorant of Paris--of the world; I only know myself and you; well, you have opened my eyes; I distrust all except your fidelity and love." Gaston was in despair. Six months previous, and he would have paid with his life the generous devotion of the courageous girl. "Helene, reflect," said Gaston; "if we were mistaken, and this man be really your father!" "Gaston, do you forget that you first taught me to distrust him?" "Oh, yes, Helene, let us go," cried Gaston. "Where are we to go?" asked Helene; "but you need not reply--if you know, it is sufficient." "Helene," said Gaston, "I will not insult you by swearing to respect your honor; the offer which you have made to-day I have long hesitated to make--rich, happy, sure for the present of fortune and happiness, I would have placed all at your feet, trusting to God for the future; but at this moment I must tell you, that you were not mistaken; from day to day, from this day to the next, there is a chance of a terrible event. I must tell you now, Helene, what I can offer you. If I succeed, a high and powerful position; but if I fail, flight, exile, it may be poverty. Do you love me enough, Helene, or rather do you love your honor enough, to brave all this and follow me?" "I am ready, Gaston; tell me to follow you, and I do so." "Well, Helene, your confidence shall not be displaced, believe me; I will take you to a person who will protect you, if necessary, and who, in my absence, will replace the father you thought to find, but whom you have, on the contrary, lost a second time."