He dropped his head on his hands, and his father turned to him affectionately.
"You do not ask if the evil this man has worked can be remedied, Adrien," he said, in a softer tone than he had ever been known to use. "You do not ask whether anything can be regained?"
"I am willing to pay the penalty of my folly," said Adrien, in a low tone; "and if only it can be arranged that you, too, do not suffer, I shall not mind."
"Not even if it should leave you penniless?" asked his father.
Adrien raised his head with a mournful smile.
"But for one reason, I am indifferent," he said.
His father's face lit up.
"Yes," he said, "I think I know that reason. Mr. Harker, will you be so good as to place Mr. Leroy in possession of the facts which you have already given me. I am almost too tired to speak, after the strain of these last few hours."
Adrien looked at him remorsefully; for the old man had indeed undergone much suffering during the last eventful weeks.
Mr. Harker laid a small book upon the table.