He took her hand as he spoke, and gently drew her, yielding reluctantly, to a seat. Then, without premeditation, he dropped upon one knee before her, and poured forth that eloquence which gushes from a full and loving heart. She covered her face with her hands as he proceeded, and tears of mingled happiness and sorrow evinced the conflict of her emotions.
In the mean time Mr. Beman had been introduced to McAllen, and had listened attentively to his story, and carefully read the declaration.
"You say," said he, "that you have carefully examined the place of deposit indicated here, which, singularly enough, seems to have been my office?"
"Yes, sir," McAllen answered; "and the workmen said they had seen nothing of any papers in taking down the chimney. I even had the floors lifted, and a strict search made; but was reluctantly forced to the conclusion that the papers had been destroyed."
"If we had those documents," said Beman, musingly, "this declaration would be, though not strictly legal evidence, of great service. By establishing the fact of your father's death we might be permitted to prove his hand-writing. But, as it is, this seems only to ascertain that a great wrong has been done, without giving the means of righting it."
He was interrupted by the entrance of the elder Le Vert, who accompanied his announcement with a stately bow first, to Madame Lefrette, and then to the two gentlemen, and, declining the seat offered him, at once addressed the former.
"I have but a few moments to spare," he said, in that tone which seemed to declare his time more valuable and his business more important than those of any one else; "will you allow me to speak with you in private, Madam?"
Madame Lefrette rose, and without replying, led the way into another room. Here be again declined a seat, and without preface, with the rashness which always indicates the trepidation of fear or of conscious meanness, declared his business.
"My son, Napoleon," he commenced, "informed me to-day that he has not seen your daughter for several weeks."
