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If our enemies hear of our meeting, you see, if they only find out that we have conversed together, all is lost. They would see the danger that threatens them, and they would escape." Daniel could hardly trust his ears. "Our enemies?" he asked, emphasizing the word "our." "Yes: I mean our enemies, Sarah Brandon, Countess Ville-Handry, Maxime de Brevan, Thomas Elgin, and Mrs. Brian."
He even took the precaution of living on his little estate for four years, practising the life of a country-gentleman, received with open arms by the nobility of the neighborhood, forming friendships, gaining supporters, and becoming more and more identified with Maxime de Brevan. "What was his aim at that time?
"Come, quick, dress me!" And in less than five minutes she had arranged her beautiful hair, and put on one of her most becoming dresses. While changing her dress, she noticed the rustling of paper. "Ah!" she said to herself, "my letter to Daniel. I had forgotten it." Was it already too late to send it to M. de Brevan? Probably it was. But why might she not try, at least?
Most assuredly Henrietta did not find out only now that the old dealer and his sister hated her enemies, Sarah Brandon and Maxime de Brevan, mortally; but she had never seen that hatred break out so terribly as to-night. What had brought it about? This she could not fathom. Papa Ravinet, it was evident, was not a nobody.
"What can I do?" murmured the poor girl, "what can I do? You alone, sir, can advise me." For some time M. de Brevan continued silent; then he said in a very sad voice, "My experience, madam, supplies me with but one advice, be patient; say little; do as little as possible; and endeavor to appear insensible to their insults.
Ah! if our honest friends could but know what misery, what humiliations and anxieties are hid beneath that false splendor of high life, which they often envy, they would think themselves fully avenged. "It is certain that Maxime de Brevan found times hard in those days, and actually more than once regretted that he had not remained a stupid, honest man.
"Certainly. Everybody knows her." Daniel did not notice the extreme self-conceit with which these words were uttered. "All right, then. Now, Maxime, I conjure you, by our friendship, tell me frankly what you think of her. What kind of a woman is this Miss Brandon?" His features, as well as his voice, betrayed such extreme excitement, that Brevan was almost stunned. At last he said,
Daniel did not seem to have noticed that M. de Brevan, at first all fire and energy, had rapidly cooled off, like a man, who, having ventured too far, thinks he has made a mistake, and tries to retrace his steps. "Certainly you may count upon me," he replied; "but what can be done?" "Well, what you said yourself. I shall call upon Miss Brandon, and watch her. I shall dissemble, and gain time.
"Why, is this you? Where on earth do you come from?" "From the theatre." "And you run away before the fifth act? That is a crime against the majesty of Mozart. Come, go back with me, and I promise you a pleasant surprise." Brevan came up close to Daniel, and whispered to him, "Go; here is the opportunity I was wishing for." Then he lifted his hat and went his way.
But Brevan was getting more and more excited. He interrupted his friend, and said, "Nonsense! You are a man like all other men. Passion does not reason, does not calculate; and that is the secret of its strength. As long as we have a spark of commonsense left, we are not really in love. That is so, I tell you; and no will, no amount of energy, can do any thing with it.
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