"Who is it! It is the master of the house, I would have you know."
"M. Cloarek!" exclaimed Onésime, recoiling a little, for the speaker's manner and tone indicated only too plainly that his, Onésime's, presence in the house was unwelcome to Sabine's father, so after a moment he said, in a trembling, almost timid voice:
"In complying with the wishes of my aunt, I believed, monsieur, that her request was made with your approval, or at least that you would not disapprove her kindness to me. But for that, I should not have thought of accepting her invitation."
"I hope so, indeed."
"I must therefore beg you to excuse an indiscretion of which I have been the involuntary accomplice, monsieur. I will leave your house to-morrow."
"And where will you go? What will you do?" demanded Cloarek, abruptly. "What will become of you afterward?"
"Not understanding the feeling that prompts these questions, you cannot be surprised that I hesitate to answer them," responded Onésime, with gentle dignity.
"My feeling may be kindly, and it may be the opposite,—that depends upon circumstances. I shall know presently, however."
"You seem to constitute yourself the sole arbiter of my destiny, monsieur!" exclaimed Onésime, with respectful firmness. "By what right, may I ask?"
"On the contrary, you seem to have made yourself the arbiter of my destiny," exclaimed Cloarek, impetuously.