Noel continued with the ingenuous candour of an honest heart which suspicion has never touched with its bat's wing: "The idea of treating at once with my father pleased me exceedingly.

I thought it so much better to wash all one's dirty linen at home, I had never desired anything but an amicable arrangement.

With my hands full of proofs, I should still recoil from a public trial." "Would you not have brought an action ?" "Never, sir, not at any price.

Could I," he added proudly, "to regain my rightful name, begin by dishonouring it ?" This time M.Daburon could not conceal his sincere admiration.
"A most praiseworthy feeling, sir," he said.
"I think," replied Noel, "that it is but natural.

If things came to the worst, I had determined to leave my title with Albert.