"Enough, enough," said the Deputy, modestly; "we deserve only the credit of executing God's will—we are merely instruments in His omnipotent hand!" he added, impressively.
"And such instruments are exactly what we need in the present crisis. God grant us plenty of them!"
The next morning Zuleika encountered Espérance on the stairway; she led him into the salon, and, when they were seated, said:
"My brother, I have a question to ask of you."
A shadow crossed the young man's brow, and he quickly asked:
"Is it about the Viscount Massetti?"
"Yes."
"Then I must refuse to answer!"
"But the matter concerns my happiness, nay, my very life itself; think of that before you finally refuse to answer my question!"
Espérance hastily and excitedly arose from his chair and stood in front of his sister.