The man Forrest--mind you must not be offended if he should be a friend of yours--but I am bound to tell you that I believe him to be an unscrupulous adventurer, and I am afraid that your stepmother is very much under his influence.

You have no other relatives or friends in this country, and I hear that a man named De Brensault is a suitor for your hand." "I shall never marry him," Jeanne said firmly.

"I think that he is detestable." "I am glad to hear you say so," the Duke continued, "because he is not a man whom I would allow any young lady for whom I had any shade of respect or affection, to become acquainted with.

Now the fact that your stepmother deliberately encourages him makes me fear that you may find yourself at any moment in a very difficult position.

I do not wish to say anything against your friends or your stepmother.