in his presence; but he knew that
his servant, without thinking of harm, had spoken of his visit to Madame
de Campvallon, and he attributed the coldness and embarrassment of the
two women to this fact. He was less disquieted at this, because he was
resolved to keep them entirely safe. As a result of his reflections
during the night, he had determined to break off forever his intrigue
with Madame de Campvallon. For this rupture, which he had made it a point
of honor not to provoke, Madame de Campvallon had herself furnished him a
sufficient pretext.

The criminal thought she had suggested was, he knew, only a feint to test
him, but it was enough to justify his abandonment of her. As to the
violent and menacing words the Marquise had used, he held them of little
value, though at times the remembrance of them troubled him.
Nevertheless, for many years he had not felt his heart so light. This
wicked tie once broken, it seemed as if he had resumed, with his liberty,
his youth and virtue. He walked and played a part of the day with his
little son. After dinner, just as night fell, clear and pure, he proposed
to Madame de Camors a tete-a-tete excursion in the woods. He spoke to her
of a view which had struck him shortly before on such a night, and which
would please, he said laughingly, her romantic taste.

He would not permit himself to be surprised at the disinclination she
manifested, at the disquietude which her face indicated, or at the rapid
glance she exchanged with her mother.

The same thought, and that a most fearful one; entered the minds of both
these unfortunate women at the same moment.

They were still under the impression of the shock which had so weakened
their nerves, and the brusque proposition of M. de Camors, so contrary to
his usual habits-the hour, the night, and the solitary walk--had suddenly
awakened in their brains the sinister images which Madame de la
Roche-Jugan had laid there. Madame de Camors, however, with an air of
resolution the circumstances did not seem entitled to demand, prepared
immediately to go out, then followed her husband from the house, leaving
her little son in charge of her mother. They had only to cross the garden
to find themselves on the edge of the wood which almost touched their
dwelling, and which stretched to the old fields inherited from the Comte
de Tecle. The intention of Camors in seeking this tete-a-tete was to
confide to his wife the decisive determination he had