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Updated: October 9, 2025
Daniel would have been much less unhappy if some one had suddenly come and told him, "Miss Ville-Handry is no more." Yes, less unhappy; for true love in its savage selfishness suffers less from death than from treason.
Fate, however, always more kind than man, held a reward in store for Count Ville-Handry, which amply repaid him for his heroism in marrying a poor girl. An uncle of his wife's, a banker at Dresden, died, and left his "beloved niece Pauline" half a million dollars.
I must become the Countess of Ville-Handry, or I am lost. And once more, sir, I beseech you induce Miss Henrietta to receive me like an elder sister. Ah! if I were the woman you think I am, what would I care for Miss Henrietta and her enmity? You know very well that the count will go on at any hazard. And yet I beg, I who am accustomed to command everywhere. What more can I do?
The conversation between Count Ville-Handry and M. Elgin had in the meantime become very familiar; and the count was just detailing all his arrangements for the approaching wedding. He would live, he said, with his wife in the second story of his palace. The first story was to be divided into two suites of apartments, one for M. Thomas Elgin, and the other for Mrs.
He said, "I think I see something better. Count Ville-Handry is going soon to give a great party?" "The day after to-morrow, Thursday." "All right. On Thursday, madam, you will complain early in the morning already, of a bad headache, and you will send for the doctor.
And resolved not to interfere in the count's family affairs, and, on the other hand, indignant at what he considered an odious abuse of power, he left the room abruptly. His looks, his physiognomy, his gestures, all betrayed these sentiments so clearly, that Henrietta was quite touched. But Count Ville-Handry continued, after a moment's surprise, saying,
Brian have gone to work to rob Count Ville-Handry, and to ruin him. I know what they have done with the millions which they report were lost in speculations; and I have the evidence in my hand. Therefore, I can ruin them, without reference to their other crimes. Crochard's affidavit alone suffices to ruin M. de Brevan.
A man came and leaned his face against the window, then suddenly he drew back; and Daniel distinctly recognized Count Ville-Handry. What did that mean? Did it not imply that Miss Brandon had been taken suddenly ill, and that people were anxious about her? These were Daniel's thoughts when he heard the noise of bolts withdrawn, and doors opened.
This suspicion took so powerfully hold of her, that when dinner was over, instead of returning to her rooms, she followed her father and his new "friends" into the sitting-room. Count Ville-Handry spoke of Mrs. Brian and M. Elgin always as "the family." They did not long remain alone.
Miss Ville-Handry may suffer somewhat during that month; but the day after your wedding you will carry her off to your own home, and leave the poor old man to his amorous folly." Daniel showed in his face that this suggestion opened a new prospect before him. "I had not thought of that," he said. "It is all you can do." "Yes, it is what prudence would advise me to do. But can I do so in honor?"
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