“Mademoiselle,” answered Emmanuel in a voice of feeling, “I scarcely know if I have the right to speak to you as I am about to do.  Think only of my desire to be of service to you, and give me the right of a teacher to be interested in the future of a pupil.  Your brother Gabriel is over fifteen; he is in the second class; it is now necessary to direct his studies in the line of whatever future career he may take up.  It is for your father to decide what that career shall be:  if he gives the matter no thought, the injury to Gabriel would be serious.  But then, again, would it not mortify your father if you showed him that he is neglecting his son’s interests?  Under these circumstances, could you not yourself consult Gabriel as to his tastes, and help him to choose a career, so that later, if his father should think of making him a public officer, an administrator, a soldier, he might be prepared with some special training?  I do not suppose that either you or Monsieur Claes would wish to bring Gabriel up in idleness.”

“Oh, no!” said Marguerite; “when my mother taught us to make lace, and took such pains with our drawing and music and embroidery, she often said we must be prepared for whatever might happen to us.  Gabriel ought to have a thorough education and a personal value.  But tell me, what career is best for a man to choose?”

“Mademoiselle,” said Emmanuel, trembling with pleasure, “Gabriel is at the head of his class in mathematics; if he would like to enter the Ecole Polytechnique, he could there acquire the practical knowledge which will fit him for any career.  When he leaves the Ecole he can choose the path in life for which he feels the strongest bias.  Thus, without compromising his future, you will have saved a great deal of time.  Men who leave the Ecole with honors are sought after on all sides; the school turns out statesmen, diplomats, men of science, engineers, generals, sailors, magistrates, manufacturers, and bankers.  There is nothing extraordinary in the son of a rich or noble family preparing himself to enter it.  If Gabriel decides on this course I shall ask you to—­will you grant my request?  Say yes!”

“What is it?”

“Let me be his tutor,” he answered, trembling.

Marguerite looked at Monsieur de Solis; then she took his hand, and said, “Yes”—­and paused, adding presently in a broken voice:—­

“How much I value the delicacy which makes you offer me a thing I can accept from you.  In all that you have said I see how much you have thought for us.  I thank you.”

Though the words were simply said, Emmanuel turned away his head not to show the tears that the delight of being useful to her brought to his eyes.

“I will bring both boys to see you,” he said, when he was a little calmer; “to-morrow is a holiday.”

He rose and bowed to Marguerite, who followed him into the house; when he had crossed the court-yard he turned and saw her still at the door of the dining-room, from which she made him a friendly sign.