that was not likely to be the case. He felt worse than ever, when, upon
being shown into the drawing-room, he saw Henrietta sitting by the fire,
deadly pale, with her eyes all red and inflamed from weeping.

"What is the matter with you?" he cried, without waiting for the door to
be closed behind him. "What has happened?"

"Something terrible, M. Daniel."

"Tell me, pray, what. You frighten me."

"My father is going to marry again."

At first Daniel was amazed. Then, recalling at once the gradual
transformation of the count, he said,--

"Oh, oh, oh! That explains every thing."

But Henrietta interrupted him; and, making a great effort, she repeated
to him in a half-stifled voice almost literally her conversation with
her father. When she had ended, Daniel said,--

"You have guessed right, Miss Henrietta. Your father evidently does
propose to you a bargain."

"Ah! but that is horrible."

"He wanted you to understand, that, if you would consent to his
marriage, he would consent"--