The young girl shook her head gently, and then she said,—
“No!”
Count Ville-Handry had become very red. He exclaimed,—
“What! You dare! What would you say if I threatened to carry you forcibly to Miss Brandon’s house?”
“I, should say, father, that that is the only way to make me go there.”
Her attitude was firm, though not defiant. She spoke in a calm, gentle voice, but betrayed in every thing a resolution firmly formed, and not to be shaken by any thing. The count seemed to be perfectly amazed at this audacity shown by a girl who was usually so timid. He said,—
“Then you detest, you envy, this Miss Brandon?”
“I, father? Why should I? Great God! I only know that she cannot become the Countess Ville-Handry,—she who has filled all Paris with evil reports.”
“Who has told you so? No doubt, M. Champcey.”
“Everybody has told me, father.”