"What act shall follow this preamble?" said the
lawyer, raising his thick, white, shaggy eyebrows in
enquiring wonder: "Go on, go on;" he commanded
in a short, gasping utterance; "declare the pains and
penalties. She lives? Amanda lives? Has she
proved false? You have not lost her?"

"Lost her! oh!" exclaimed Claude, unable to curb
his emotion.

"Nay, confess it; announce the worst; the broadest
misfortune; my ears are open for it," pursued the
other.

"But I have no heart, no tongue to fill them with
my dire news," Claude stammered, and the advocate
resumed, growing impatient:

"Of my ward what can you tell me that is untoward?
Of myself say anything: foretell disaster, prophecy
my death; -- but what of her? -- you say she lives?"

"She does."

"Is well?"

Claude shook his head, and remained silent.

"Sir, let your lips pronounce my doom at once,"
said the advocate, striving to be calm, yet alarmed
and irritated; "Proceed: -- I am ashamed to say it, but
I tremble. What has befallen my ward, what trouble
has alighted on my child? -- for so I call her. Claude
Montigny, what is it brings you here betwixt night
and day, with tidings that you falter to deliver?"

"Calm yourself;" counselled Claude in a warning
tone.

"I will;" answered the advocate; "I do; -- resolve
me quickly."

"I fear to do so," Montigny uttered pathetically,
as if his resolution had suddenly given way.

[[91]]

p090 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p091w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p092

v?