Even Rodolph remained speechless with horror at this fearful revelation of the diabolical hypocrisy of M. Ferrand.
“Then,” said he, after a pause of some minutes, “you never ventured to inform your father of the infamous treatment you had received?”
“No,” answered she, “for I dreaded lest he might suppose I had willingly listened to the persuasions of my master; and I also feared that, in the first burst of his indignation, my poor father would forget that not only his own freedom, but the very existence of his family, depended upon the pleasure of M. Ferrand.”
“And probably,” continued Rodolph, desirous if possible to save Louise the painful confession, “probably, yielding to constraint, and the dread of endangering the safety of your father and family by a refusal, you continued to be
