erica. And you may not be
connected with that Montresor, after all; but I'm afraid you must be,
and that--you--will have to be--poor papa's--enemy."

"Never!" said Claude, vehemently; "never! not if your
father--Whatever has happened, I will let it pass--so far as I am
concerned."

"O, you don't know what it is that has happened."

"Neither do you, for that matter; so there now; and for my part I
don't want to know, and I won't try to find out, if you think I'd
better not."

"I don't dare to think anything about it; I only know that a good son
has duties towards his parents, and that he must devote his life to
the vindication of their honor."

"Undoubtedly," said Claude, placidly; "but as it happens my parents
have never communicated to me any story of any wrongs of theirs, I
know very little about them. They never desired that I should
investigate their lives; and, as I have never heard of any wrongs
which they suffered, I don't see how I can go about to vindicate
their honor. I have, by the merest chance, come upon something which
excited my curiosity, and made me anxious to know something more. I
have had no deeper feeling than curiosity; and if you think that my
search will make me an enemy of your father, I hereby give up the
search, and decline to pursue it any farther. In fact, I'll fall back
upon my old name and rank, and become plain Claude Motier."

Claude tried to speak in an off-hand tone; but his assumed
indifference could not conceal the deep devotion of the look which he
gave to Mimi, or the profound emotion which was in his heart. It was
for her sake that he thus offered to relinquish his purpose. She knew
it and felt it.

"I'm sure," said she, "I don't know what to say to that. I'm afraid
to say anything. I don't know what may happen yet; you may at any
time find out something which would break through all your
indifference, and fill you with a thirst for vengeance. I don't know,
and you don't know, what may be--before us. So don't make any rash
offers, but merely do as I asked you before; and that is,--while papa
is here,--refrain from mentioning this subject to him. It is simply
for the sake of his--his peace of mind--and--and--his health. I know
it will excite him so dreadfully--that I tremble for the result."

"O, of course," said Claude, "I promise, as I did before. You needn't
be at all afraid."

"Would you have any objection," she asked, after a short silence, "to
tell me how much yo