ne with the organist, he inquired the reason that
led him to follow him; and he heard, with some emotion, the news of the
intrigues which Maxime de Trailles had apparently organized against him.
Returning to his original suspicions, he said to Jacques Bricheteau,--

"Are you really sure that that person who declared himself my father was
the Marquis de Sallenauve, and that I am truly his son?"

"Mother Marie-des-Anges and Achille Pigoult, by whom I was warned
of this plot, have no more doubt than I have of the existence of the
Marquis de Sallenauve; this gossip with which they threaten you has, in
my judgment, but one dangerous aspect. I mean that by your absence you
are giving a free field to your adversaries."

"But," replied the deputy, "the Chamber will not condemn me without a
hearing. I wrote to the president and asked for leave of absence, and I
took the precaution to request de l'Estorade, who knows the reason of my
absence, to be kind enough to guarantee me, should my absence be called
in question."

"I think you also wrote to Madame de l'Estorade, didn't you?"

"I wrote only to her," replied Sallenauve. "I wanted to tell her about
the great misfortune of our mutual friend, and, at the same time, I
asked her to explain to her husband the kind service I requested him to
do for me."

"If that is so," said Bricheteau, "you need not count for one moment
on the l'Estorades. A knowledge of this trick which is being organized
against you has reached their ears and affected their minds, I am very
sure."

He then related the reception he had met with from Madame de l'Estorade,
and the uncivil remarks she had made about Sallenauve, from which he
concluded that in the struggle about to take place no assistance could
be relied on from that direction.

"I have every reason to be surprised," said Sallenauve, "after the warm
assurances Madame de l'Estorade has given me of an unfailing good-will.
However," he added, philosophically, "everything is possible in this
world; and calumny has often undermined friendship."

"You understand, therefore," said Bricheteau, "that it is all-important
to start for Paris, without a moment's delay. Your stay here, all things
considered, is only relatively necessary."

"On the contrary," said Sallenauve, "the doctor considers that my
presence here may be of the utmost utility. He has not yet let me see
the patient, because he expects to produce some great result when I do
see him."