"Madame, he is a gambler, I repeat it. If he had a hundred francs to-night, he would most likely be penniless to-morrow morning."
"And he claimed charity from you because of your connection with Canada?"
"Exactly. Having no other plea. I was right, madame: you know this man?"
"He was my bitterest enemy!" she answered, half rising in her vehemence. "But for him I might have had a happy life."
Father Paul looked shocked.
"Forgive me," he said, in a troubled voice, "I am grieved to have spoken of him."
"On the contrary, I am thankful you did so. If I had met him by chance in the street, I believe he could not change so much that I should not know him, and he—"
She stopped, then asked abruptly,
"You did not mention me?"
"Most assuredly not."