Ella tried to comfort her, but with very little avail. She had utterly
broken down.
"I am surely the most unhappy of girls!" she sobbed. "They have killed
my poor father, and now they will take from me my honour as a woman!"
Then, after a pause, she added:--
"You remember what I told you regarding the woman Hardwick? Nardini
knew of that scandal long ago in Pisa, when you accidentally met Ina's
married sister travelling, and were forced into the Divorce Court by her
husband to give evidence against her. As Minister of Justice, he knew
well all the secrets of hushed-up scandals, and often turned them to his
own profit."
"Miss Miller," Sammy exclaimed, in a soft tone now full of sympathy for
the poor suffering girl, "you mentioned just now the unfortunate death
of my friend Manuel Carrera, in Paris. You recollect that I--"
"Manuel Carrera!" cried Ella, suddenly releasing Lucie and facing Sammy.
"Was he your friend? Then let me also tell you the truth! Hear my
confession, Godfrey, and then you shall judge me!"