The poor girl turned deadly pale as he spoke thus, and interrupted him eagerly, raising herself on her pillows,—­

“You are mistaken, sir.  My position here may justify such suspicions, I know; but I have no lover.”

He replied,—­

“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.”

Papa Ravinet’s eyes shone with delight; and he exclaimed joyously,—­