My Child,—­If God so wills, my spirit will be within your heart when you read these words, the last I shall ever write; they are full of love for my dear ones, left at the mercy of a demon whom I have not been able to resist.  When you read these words he will have taken your last crust, just as he took my life and squandered my love.  You know, my darling, if I loved your father:  I die loving him less, for I take precautions against him which I never could have practised while living.  Yes, in the depths of my coffin I shall have kept a resource for the day when some terrible misfortune overtakes you.  If when that day comes you are reduced to poverty, or if your honor is in question, my child, send for Monsieur de Solis, should he be living,—­if not, for his nephew, our good Emmanuel; they hold one hundred and seventy thousand francs which are yours and will enable you to live.

If nothing shall have subdued his passion; if his children prove no stronger barrier than my happiness has been, and cannot stop his criminal career,—­leave him, leave your father, that you may live.  I could not forsake him; I was bound to him.  You, Marguerite, you must save the family.  I absolve you for all you may do to defend Gabriel and Jean and Felicie.  Take courage; be the guardian angel of the Claes.  Be firm,—­I dare not say be pitiless; but to repair the evil already done you must keep some means at hand.  On the day when you read this letter, regard yourself as ruined already, for nothing will stay the fury of that passion which has torn all things from me.

My child, remember this:  the truest love is to forget your heart.  Even though you be forced to deceive your father, your dissimulation will be blessed; your actions, however blamable they may seem, will be heroic if taken to protect the family.  The virtuous Monsieur de Solis tells me so; and no conscience was ever purer or more enlightened than his.  I could never have had the courage to speak these words to you, even with my dying breath.

And yet, my daughter, be respectful, be kind in the dreadful struggle.  Resist him, but love him; deny him gently.  My hidden tears, my inward griefs will be known only when I am dead.  Kiss my dear children in my name when the hour comes and you are called upon to protect them.

  May God and the saints be with you!

Josephine.

To this letter was added an acknowledgment from the Messieurs de Solis, uncle and nephew, who thereby bound themselves to place the money entrusted to them by Madame Claes in the hands of whoever of her children should present the paper.

“Martha,” cried Marguerite to the duenna, who came quickly; “go to Monsieur Emmanuel de Solis, and ask him to come to me.—­Noble, discreet heart! he never told me,” she thought; “though all my griefs and cares are his, he never told me!”

Emmanuel came before Martha could get back.