"It was certainly necessary to prevent you from telling him what he now knows.—The silly girl told him everything yesterday."
"How do you know that?"
I saw her face redden.
"I know it. That's enough!" she replied defiantly.
Feeling certain that Kondjé-Gul had not told her anything of the incident of the day before, I divined that she had just left Kiusko's, where she had been, no doubt, during our interview.
"May I ask you, then, what you propose to do, now that Count Kiusko knows everything?" I continued, controlling my anger.
"I shall do what my daughter's happiness impels me to do. You cannot marry her without being obliged to give up your uncle's fortune. If Count Kiusko should persist in wishing to make her his wife, knowing all the circumstances that he now does, you can understand that I, as her mother, could not but approve of a marriage which would assure her such a rich future."
At this I could no longer restrain myself, but exclaimed:
"Oh, indeed! Do you imagine I shall let you dispose of her like that, without defending her?"
"No, of course, I know all this.—And that's the very point upon which I consulted a counsel; but, according to what he has advised me, I should like to ask what authority you can claim over my daughter? What rights can you set up against mine?"