“I believe you; I swear I believe you. But, if that is so, how did you
get here? and how were you reduced to such extreme suffering?”
At last Papa Ravinet had touched the right chord. The poor girl was
deeply moved; and the tears started in her eyes. She said in a low
voice,--
“There are secrets which cannot be revealed.”
“Not even when life and honor depend on them?”
“Yes.”
“But”--
“Oh, pray do not insist!”
If Henrietta had known the old merchant, she would have read in his eyes
the satisfaction which he felt. A moment before he had despaired of ever
gaining her confidence; now he felt almost sure of success. The time
seemed to him to have come to strike a decisive blow.
“I have tried my best to win your confidence, I confess; but it was
solely in your own interest. If it had been otherwise, do you think
I should have asked you these questions, instead of finding out every
thing by simply tearing a piece of paper?”
The poor girl could not retain a cry of terror.
“You mean my letters?”
“I have both.”
“Ah! That is why the ladies who nursed me looked for them everywhere in
vain.”
Instead of any other answer, he drew them from his pocket, and laid them
on the bed with an air of injured innocence. To all appearances, the
envelopes had not been touched. Henrietta glanced at them, and then,
holding out her hand to the old man, she said,--
“I thank you, sir!”
He did not stir; but he felt that this false evidence of honesty had
helped him more than all his eloquence. He hastily added,--
“After all, I could not resist the temptation to read the directions,
and to draw my own conclusions. Who is Count Ville-Handry? I suppose he
is your father. And M. Maxime de Brevan? No doubt he is the young man
who called to see you so often. Ah, if you would but trust me! If you
but knew how a little experience of the world often helps us to overcome
the greatest difficulties!”
He was evidently deeply moved.
“However, wait till you are perfectly well again before you come to any
decision. Consider the matter carefully. You need not tell me any thing
else but what is absolutely necessary for me to know in order to advise
you.”
“Yes, indeed! In that way I may”--
“Well, I’ll wait, why, as long as you want me to wait,--two days, ten
days.”
“Very well.”
“Only, I pray you, promise me solemnly that you will give up all idea of
suicide.”
“I promise you solemnly I will.”