"How have Esperance and the Duke contrived to see each other?"
"I will tell you all that uncle, later, but the how and the why are not very important at this moment. I want you to send for Albert. Esperance does not wish to marry him. She has loved the Duke a long time, but did not know that he loved her, and did not suppose an alliance possible between our families, even though you have made the name illustrious. For that matter I should never have supposed myself that the Duke would consent to make what would generally be considered a mésalliance."
"It all seems unbelievable," murmured François.
And with his head in his hands he groaned despairingly, "How can we sacrifice that noble and unfortunate Albert?"
"One of the three must suffer, uncle. It would be a crime to sacrifice Esperance who has the right to love whom she pleases and to choose her own life. The Duke Morlay is loved, Count Albert is not and never has been. He knows it as you know it now. Esperance consented to marry him through gratitude to you."
"Ah! I feared as much," said the professor prostrated.
François Darbois remained a long time in thought, then he got up, his face lined with sadness.
"Tell your cousin to come to me, I will wait for her here."
"I will send her to you at once. Forgive me for having so distressed you, dear uncle."
"It was your duty!"