Zac now began questioning her further; but Margot could not remain any longer; she therefore hurried away, with the promise to see him again and explain more about it; and Zac was left alone with his own thoughts, not knowing exactly what he could say to Claude, or how he could make up, out of Margot's scanty information, a story which might offer sufficient ground for a change in the purpose of the voyage. Meanwhile Claude had seen Mimi at various times, and had conversed with her, as before, in a very confidential manner. The danger of which Margot had spoken was present in Mimi's thoughts, also; and she was anxious to secure Claude's assistance. Thus it was that Mimi communicated to Claude all about her personal affairs. There was something almost childish in this ready communicativeness; but she knew no reason for concealing anything, and therefore was thus frank and outspoken. Claude, also, was quite as willing to tell all about himself; though his own story was somewhat more involved, and could not be told piecemeal, but required a longer and more elaborate explanation. "Have you many friends in France?" asked Mimi, in an abrupt sort of way, the next time they met. "Friends in France?" repeated Claude; "not one, that I know of." "No friends! Then what can you do there?" she asked, innocently. "Well, I don't know yet," said he. "I will see when I get there. The fact is, I am going there to find out something about my own family--my parents and myself." At this Mimi fastened her large eyes upon Claude with intense interest. "How strangely you talk!" said she. "I'll tell you a secret," said Claude, after a pause. "What?" she asked. "You will never tell it to any one? It's very important." "I tell it?" repeated Mimi; "I! Never. Of course not. So, now, what is the secret?" "Well, it's this: my name is not Motier." "Well," said Mimi, "I'm sure I'm very glad that it isn't; and it seemed strange when you told me first, for Motier is a plebeian name; and you certainly are no plebeian." "I am not a plebeian," said Claude, proudly. "You are right. My name is one of the noblest in France. I wonder if you can tell me what I want to know!" "I! Why, how can I?" said Mimi. "But I should so like to know what it is that you want to know! And O, monsieur, I should so love to know what is your real name and family!" "Well," said Claude, "I don't as yet know much about it myself. But I do know what my real name is. I am the Count de Montresor." "Montresor," exclaimed Mimi, "Montresor!" As she said this, there was an evident agitation in her voice and manner which did not escape Claude. "What's the matter?" said he. "You know something. Tell me what it is! O, tell me!" Mimi looked at him very earnestly.