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TIGHTENING THE CHAINS 149
only learn sense when they have nothing to
protect.
" Next day Claude was very dejected, and
full of uneasiness. When he came home to
dinner he was very downcast.
" ' We
must leave here to-morrow/ he said
'
to me : your husband is abroad, and wants
you to join him. Get ready. Our boat leaves
at 2 p.m.'
"
This was news, indeed. I commenced to
pack up in the morning. In the midst of my
work a young woman was announced. She
wanted to see me. She was admitted. She
was a mere
flaxen-haired
child
child.
a pale-faced, blue-eyed,
She looked like a delicate
flower reared in a hothouse.
"'Oh, madame, madame,' she cried, run-
6
ning up to me 1 have come to warn you.
Tor God's sake mind what you are doing.
You are in the hands of a set of bad men.
I have come to warn you of the fate that
awaits you. My name is Nelly.'
"' '
Nelly?* I echoed. 'Nelly, eh?
" (
I have been in the house of the damned,
where you were brought also, at first. It is
the worst house in all Austria. What is your
tell me.'
real name, madame ? pray
"
I gave her my name. She wrote it down,
and quickly placed the paper in her bosom ;
then, taking another sheet, she wrote her own
name and address on the back of it.
" '
That's my full name and private address.
We may in future help one another, but
now take my warning. It's true, true as