Henrietta had written it again, and again had crept into his chamber and in whatever part of the house the magnate might now be found, he everywhere encountered this pale tremulous figure who pressing her hands together and without uttering a word gazed at him beseechingly, imploringly--only they two knew why.
On the third day Leonard again found the petition and again encountered Henrietta.
This time he spoke to her.
"My dear Henrietta, have you read 'The Mysteries of Paris ?'" Henrietta, as usual, only stared at the speaker with frightened eyes and said nothing.
"How did you like the description of Bicetre?
A horrible place, eh?
I have noticed that you have been behaving in rather a peculiar way lately.

In fact, the whole district has been talking about it and saying that you are a little crazy.

I have been asked all sorts of questions about it too .-- Hitherto I have always told everybody that it is not true .-- But if once I should say that it _is_ true, then, you will be most certainly shut up in a mad house.

Regulate your conduct accordingly.".