"Let us go to your room, for no one must hear what I have to say to you."
François was astonished, for he had supposed that it was of his own future that Maurice wished to speak. They went towards the Tower of Saint Genevieve.
"Uncle, what I have to say to you is very grave."
"What a lot of preamble! Well, I am listening."
"The Duke de Morlay-La-Branche loves Esperance passionately."
"Well, that is a pity for the Duke, but he will console himself easily enough."
Maurice was silent before he continued, "Esperance is madly in love with the Duke!"
"You are raving, Maurice; she is engaged to Count Styvens and has no right to forget him."
"She has never been in love with the Count, and can hardly endure him since she has foreseen another future."
"But it is impossible, impossible," said the philosopher violently. "A word that has been given cannot be taken back so lightly."
"Calm yourself, uncle, if you please. For three days I have been wandering about in this untenable situation. We must make a decision. Every instant I fear an outbreak either from Albert or from the Duke."
"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.