“As soon as he was free once more, he devoted all his energies to the destruction of every trace of his identity; and, when he thought he had accomplished this, he went to Mans, assuming the name of one of the sons of the marquis, who had been nearly of his own age.  No one doubted for a moment that he was Maxime de Brevan.  Who could have doubted it, when he purchased the old family mansion for a considerable sum, although it only consisted of a ruinous castle, and a small farm adjoining the house?  He paid cash, moreover, proving thus the correctness of the magistrate’s suspicions as to his story about losses on ’Change, and as to the complicity of his parents.  He even took the precaution of living on his little estate for four years, practising the life of a country-gentleman, received with open arms by the nobility of the neighborhood, forming friendships, gaining supporters, and becoming more and more identified with Maxime de Brevan.

“What was his aim at that time?  I always thought he was looking out for a wealthy wife, so as to consolidate his position; and he came near realizing his hopes.

“He was on the point of marrying a young lady from Mans, who would have brought him half a million in money, and the banns had already been published, when, all of a sudden, the marriage was broken off, no one knew why.

“This only is certain:  he was so bitterly disappointed by his failure, that he sold his property, and left the country.  For the next three years, he lived in Paris, more completely Maxime de Brevan than ever; and then he met Sarah Brandon.”

Papa Ravinet had been speaking now for nearly three hours, and he was beginning to feel exhausted.  He showed his weariness in his face; and his voice very nearly gave out.  Still it was in vain for Daniel, Henrietta, and Mrs. Bertolle herself to unite in begging him to go and lie down for a few moments.

“No,” he replied, “I will go to the end.  You do not know how important it is that M. Champcey should be in a position to act to-morrow, or rather to-day.

“It was at a fancy ball,” he went on, “given by M. Planix, that Sarah Brandon, at that time still known as Ernestine Bergot, and Justin Chevassat, now Maxime de Brevan, met for the first time.  He was completely overpowered by her marvellous beauty, and she—­she was strangely impressed by the peculiar expression in Maxime’s face.  Perhaps they divined each other’s character, perhaps they had an intuitive perception of who they were.  At all events, they soon became acquainted, drawn as they were to each other by an instinctive and irresistible attraction.  They danced several times together; they sat side by side; they talked long and intimately; and, when the ball came to an end, they were friends already.

“They met frequently; and, if it were not profanation, I would say they loved each other.  They seemed to be made on purpose to understand, and, so to say, compliment, each other, equally corrupt as they were, devoured by the same sinful desires, and alike free from all the old-fashioned prejudices, as they called it, about justice, morals, and honor.  They could hardly help coming soon to some understanding by which they agreed to associate their ambitions and their plans for the future.