unt I will add the interest on this sum since I have
had it, and--we shall be free of all obligation."

The girl sadly shook her head.

"Why do you resort to subterfuges which are so unworthy of you?" she
asked, gently. "You know perfectly well that it was Sairmeuse which
Mademoiselle Armande intended to intrust to the servant of her house.
And it is Sairmeuse which must be returned."

The word "servant" was revolting to a man, who, at least, while the
empire endured, had been a power in the land.

"Ah! you are cruel, my daughter," he said, with intense bitterness; "as
cruel as a child who has never suffered--as cruel as one who, having
never himself been tempted, is without mercy for those who have yielded
to temptation.

"It is one of those acts which God alone can judge, since God alone can
read the depths of one's secret soul.

"I am only a depositary, you tell me. It was, indeed, in this light that
I formerly regarded myself.

"If your poor sainted mother was still alive, she would tell you the
anxiety and anguish I felt on being made the master of riches which
were not mine. I trembled lest I should yield to their seductions; I was
afraid of myself. I felt as a gambler might feel who had the winnings
of others confided to his care; as a drunkard might feel who had been
placed in charge of a quantity of the most delicious wines.

"Your mother would tell you that I moved heaven and earth to find the
Duc de Sairmeuse. But he had left the Count d'Artois, and no one knew
where he had gone or what had become of him. Ten years passed before
I could make up my mind to inhabit the chateau--yes, ten years--during
which I had the furniture dusted each morning as if the master was to
return that evening.

"At last I ventured. I had heard Monsieur d'Escorval declare that the
duke had been killed in battle. I took up my abode here. And from day to
day, in proportion as the domain of Sairmeuse became more beautiful
and extensive beneath my care, I felt myself more and more its rightful
owner."

But this despairing pleading in behalf of a bad cause produced no
impression upon Marie-Anne's loyal heart.

"Restitution must be made," she repeated. M. Lacheneur wrung his hands.

"Implacable!" he exclaimed; "she is implacable. Unfortunate girl! does
she not understand that it is for her sake I wish to remain where I
am? I am old, and I am familiar with toil and poverty; idleness has
not removed the callosities from my ha