“This abominable persecution cannot go on, madam: this man compromises
you too dreadfully. You ought to lay your complaint before Count
Ville-Handry.”
She decided to do so, not without great reluctance; but the count
stopped her at the first word she uttered.
“I think, my daughter, your vanity blinds you. Before M. Elgin, who
is one of the most eminent financiers in all Europe, should think of
a little insignificant person like you, he would look a long time
elsewhere.”
“Permit me, father”--
“Stop! If you should, however, not deceive yourself, it would be the
greatest good luck for you, and an honor of which you ought to be very
proud indeed. Do you think it would be easy to find a husband for you,
after all the unpleasant talk to which you have given occasion?”
“I do not wish to marry, father.”
“Of course not. However, as such a marriage would meet all my wishes, as
it would serve to tighten the bonds which unite us with this honorable
family (if M. Thomas Elgin should really have such intentions as
you mention), I should know, I think, how to force you to marry him.
However, I shall speak to him, and see.”
He spoke to him indeed, and soon; for the very next morning the countess
and Mrs. Brian purposely went out, so as to leave Henrietta and Sir
Thorn alone. The honorable gentleman looked sadder than usually. He
began thus,--
“Is it really true, madam, that you have made complaint to your father?”
“Your pertinacity compelled me to do so,” replied Henrietta.
“Is the idea of becoming my wife so very revolting to you?”
“I have told you, sir, I am no longer free.”
“Yes, to be sure! You love M. Daniel Champcey. You love him. He knows
it; for you had told him so, no doubt: and yet he has forsaken you.”
Sometimes, in her innermost heart, Henrietta had accused Daniel. But
what she thought she would permit no one else to think. She replied,
therefore, haughtily,--
“It was a point of honor with M. Champcey, and it was so with me. If
he had hesitated, I would have been the first one to say to him, ‘Duty
calls; you must go.’”