“In other words, I who risk my happiness in order to avoid a blot upon
the name of Ville-Handry, I should tarnish it in an almost ineffaceable
manner. That cannot be.”
“Henrietta!”
“No more. I stand upon a post of honor which I shall not abandon. The
more formidable Miss Brandon is, the more it becomes my duty to remain
here in order to watch over my father.”
Daniel trembled.
He remembered suddenly what M. de Brevan had told him of the means
employed by Miss Brandon for the purpose of getting rid of troublesome
people. Did Henrietta’s instincts make her anticipate a crime? No, not
such a crime, at least.
“You will understand my decision all the better,” she continued, “if I
tell you what a strange discovery I have made. This morning a gentleman
called here, who said he was a business-man, and had an appointment with
Count Ville-Handry which was of the utmost importance.
“The servants had told him that their master was out. He became angry,
and began to talk so loud, that I came to see what was the matter. When
he saw me, and found out who I was, he at once became very quiet, and
begged me to take charge of a rough copy of a legal paper, which he had
been directed to prepare secretly, and which he desired me to hand to my
father.
“I promised to do so; but, as I was carrying the paper up stairs to put
it upon my father’s bureau, I happened to look at it. Do you know
what it was? The statutes of a new society, of which father was to be
president.”
“Great God! Is it possible?”
“Most assuredly, unfortunately. I saw on the top of the paper, ‘Count
Ville-Handry, director in chief’ and after the name followed all his
titles, the high offices he has filled, and the French and foreign
decorations which he has received.”