CHAPTER XVII.
"Ernestine," he said gravely, "I am going to speak to you about your father!" She looked up at him in swift surprise.
"Is it necessary ?" "I think so," he answered.

"You won't like what I'm going to tell you! You'll think you've been badly treated.

So you have! I pledged my word, in a weak hour, with the others.

To-day I'm going to break it.

I think it best." "Well ?" "You've been deceived! You were told always that your father had died in prison.