"You will never tell it to any one? It's very important."
"I tell it?" repeated Mimi; "I! Never. Of course not. So, now, what is the secret?"
"Well, it's this: my name is not Motier."
"Well," said Mimi, "I'm sure I'm very glad that it isn't; and it seemed strange when you told me first, for Motier is a plebeian name; and you certainly are no plebeian."
"I am not a plebeian," said Claude, proudly. "You are right. My name is one of the noblest in France. I wonder if you can tell me what I want to know!"
"I! Why, how can I?" said Mimi. "But I should so like to know what it is that you want to know! And O, monsieur, I should so love to know what is your real name and family!"
"Well," said Claude, "I don't as yet know much about it myself. But I do know what my real name is. I am the Count de Montresor."
"Montresor," exclaimed Mimi, "Montresor!"
As she said this, there was an evident agitation in her voice and manner which did not escape Claude.
"What's the matter?" said he. "You know something. Tell me what it is! O, tell me!"