ment I must tell you, that you were not mistaken; from day to
day, from this day to the next, there is a chance of a terrible event. I
must tell you now, Helene, what I can offer you. If I succeed, a high
and powerful position; but if I fail, flight, exile, it may be poverty.
Do you love me enough, Helene, or rather do you love your honor enough,
to brave all this and follow me?"

"I am ready, Gaston; tell me to follow you, and I do so."

"Well, Helene, your confidence shall not be displaced, believe me; I
will take you to a person who will protect you, if necessary, and who,
in my absence, will replace the father you thought to find, but whom you
have, on the contrary, lost a second time."

"Who is this person, Gaston? This is not distrust," added Helene, with a
charming smile, "but curiosity."

"Some one who can refuse me nothing, Helene, whose days are dependent on
mine, and who will think I demand small payment when I exact your peace
and security."

"Still mysterious, Gaston: really, you frighten me."

"This secret is the last, Helene; from this moment my whole life will be
open to you."

"I thank you, Gaston."

"And now I am at your orders, Helene."

"Let us go then."

Helene took the chevalier's arm, and crossed the drawing-room, where sat
Madame Desroches, pale with anger, and scrawling a letter, whose
destination we can guess.

"Mon Dieu! mademoiselle, where are you going? what are you doing?"

"I am going away from a house where my honor is threatened."

"What!" cried the old lady, springing to her feet, "you are going away
with your lover."

"You are mistaken, madame," replied Helene, in an accent of dignity, "it
is with my husband."

Madame Desroches, terrified, let her hands fall by her side, powerless.

"You shall not go, mademoiselle, even if I am forced to use violence."

"Try, madame," said Helene, in the queenly tone which seemed natural to
her.

"Hola, Picard, Coutourier, Blanchet."

The servants appeared.

"The first who stops me I kill," said Gaston quietly, as he drew his
sword.

"What a will," cried Madame Desroches; "ah, Mesdemoiselles de Chartres
and de Valois, I recognize you there."

The two young people heard this exclamation, but did not understand it.

"We are going, madame," said Helene; "do not forget to repeat, word by
word, what I told you."

And, hanging on Gaston's arm, flushed with pleasure and pride, brave as
an ancient Amazon, the young girl ordered