The letter was forwarded, and my father began at once to tell me that I must make up my mind to the marriage.
At first I used to be very angry; but seeing we were alone, I finally determined to seem indifferent, and not to answer him when he talked about it.

Then he thought my spirit was broken, and he sent for Baron Benoni, who arrived a fortnight ago.

Do you know him, Signor Grandi?
You came to see him, so I suppose you do ?" The same look of hatred and loathing came to her face that I had noticed when Benoni and I met her in the hall.
"Yes, I know him.

He is a traitor, a villain," I said earnestly.
"Yes, and more than that.

But he is a great banker in Russia--" "A banker ?" I asked, in some astonishment.
"Did you not know it?
Yes; he is very rich, and has a great firm, if that is the name for it.