Learning the price _Mme. Bernin_ has paid for her wealth, we need not blame her for turning a deaf ear to the entreaties of _Lucie_ in behalf of her sister. Neither can _Lucie_ be held responsible for her stupidity in keeping her sister in ignorance until she was incapable of protecting herself when the occasion demanded. Poor _Annette_, one of the many offered up to the insatiable monster of ignorance and social convention! When _Annette_ is informed of the result of _Mme. Bernin's_ visit, the girl grows hysterical, and _Lucie_ learns that her little sister is about to become a mother. Under the pretext of love and marriage young, pampered _Jaques Bernin_ has taken advantage of the girl's inexperience and innocence. In her despair _Annette_ rushes out in search of her lover, only to be repelled by him in a vulgar and cruel manner. She then attempts suicide by trying to throw herself under the train which is to carry off her worthless seducer. She is rescued by the faithful nurse _Catherine_, and brought back to her anxious sister _Lucie_. _Annette_, in great excitement, relates: _Annette._ You'll never guess what he said. He got angry, and he began to abuse me. He said he guessed what I was up to; that I wanted to make a scandal to force him to marry me--oh, he spared me nothing--to force him to marry me because he was rich. And when that made me furious, he threatened to call the police! I ought to have left him, run away, come home, oughtn't I? But I couldn't believe it of him all at once, like that! And I couldn't go away while I had any hope.... As long as I was holding to his arm it was as if I was engaged. When he was gone I should only be a miserable ruined girl, like dozens of others.... My life was at stake: and to save myself I went down into the very lowest depths of vileness and cowardice. I cried, I implored. I lost all shame.... What he said then I cannot tell you--not even you--it was too much--too much--I did not understand at first. It was only afterwards, coming back, going over all his words, that I made out what he meant.... Then he rushed to the train, and jumped into a carriage, and almost crushed my fingers in the door; and he went and hid behind his mother, and she threatened, too, to have me arrested.... I wish I was dead! Lucie, dear, I don't want to go through all that's coming--I am too little--I am too weak, I'm too young to bear it. Really, I haven't the strength.