the most execrable projects may be
coloured, so as to pass for beautiful pictures!"

"But, sir, reflect--"

"I repeat to you, madame, that it is infamous! And it is shameful to see
a lady of your rank lend herself to such abominable machinations,--to
which, I trust, your sister is a stranger."

"Sir--"

"Enough, madame, enough! I am not a polished gentleman, I am not, and I
shall speak my mind bluntly."

Sarah gave the notary a piercing look with her jet-black eyes, and said,
coldly:

"You refuse?"

"I pray, madame, that you will not again insult me."

"Beware!"

"What! Threats?"

"Threats! And that you may learn they are not vain ones, learn, first,
that I have no sister--"

"What, madame?"

"I am the mother of this child!"

"You?"

"I--I made a circuitous route to reach my end--coined a tale to excite
your interest; but you are pitiless. I raise the mask, you are for war.
Well, war be it then!"

"War! Because I refuse to associate myself with you in a criminal
machination! What audacity!"

"Listen to me, sir! Your reputation as an honest man is established,
acknowledged, undisputed--"

"Because deserved; and, therefore, you must have lost your reason to
make me such a proposal as you have done, and then threaten me because I
will not accede to it."

"I know, sir, better than any one how much reputations for immaculate
virtue are to be distrusted; they often mask wantonness in women and
roguery in men."

"Madame?"

"Ever since our conversation began,--I do not know why, but I have
mistrusted your claim to the esteem and consideration which you enjoy."

"Really, madame, your mistrust does honour to your penetration!"

"Does it not? For this mistrust is based on mere nothings--on
instinct--on inexplicable presentiments; but these intimations have
rarely beguiled me."

"Madame, let us terminate this conversation."

"First learn my determination. I begin by telling you that I am
convinced of the death of my poor daughter. But, no matter, I shall
pretend that she is not dead: the most unlikely things do happen. You
are at this moment in a position of which very many must be envious, and
would be delighted at any weapon with which to assail you. I will supply
one."

"You?"

"I, by attacking you under some absurd pretext, some irregularity in the
declaration of death; say--no matter what--I will insist that my child
is not dead. As I have the greatest interest in making it believed that