Much of the conversation escaped her, but she heard enough.

Her mother's past sins were to be exposed if the daughter did not marry a man entirely unknown to her--the Marquis de Croisenois.

She knew that her torments would not be of very long duration, for to part with her love for Andre would be to part with life itself.

She made up her mind to live until she had saved her parents' honor by the sacrifice of herself, and then she would be free to accept the calm repose of the grave.
But the terrible revelation bore its fruits, for her fever came back, and a relapse was the result.

But youth and a sound constitution gained the day, and when she was convalescent her will was as strong as ever.
Her first act was to write the letter to her lover which had driven him to the verge of distraction; and then, fearing lest her father might, in his agony and remorse, be driven to some rash act, she went to him and told him that she knew all.
"I never loved M.de Breulh," said she with a pitiful smile, "and therefore the sacrifice is not so great after all." The Count was not for a moment the dupe of the generous-souled girl, but he did not dare to brave the scandal of the death of Montlouis, and still less the exposure of his wife's conduct.