rehended that this
was one of those affronts which the person insulted must not seem to
suspect, under penalty of giving the offending party the advantage.

He felt that Marie-Anne must not be regarded as the cause of the
quarrel!

His instant recognition of the situation produced a powerful reaction
in his mind; and he recovered, as if by magic, his coolness and the free
exercise of his faculties.

"Yes," he resumed, defiantly, "this is hypocrisy enough. To dare to
prate of reparation after the insults that you and yours have inflicted,
is adding intentional humiliation to insult--and I will not permit it."

Martial had thrown aside his gun; he now rose and brushed the knee of
his pantaloons, to which a few particles of dust had adhered, with a
phlegm whose secret he had learned in England.

He was too discerning not to perceive that Maurice had disguised the
true cause of his outburst of passion; but what did it matter to him?
Had he avowed it, the marquis would not have been displeased.

Yet it was necessary to make some response, and to preserve the
superiority which he imagined he had maintained up to that time.

"You will never know, Monsieur," he said, glancing alternately at his
gun and at Marie-Anne, "all that you owe to Mademoiselle Lacheneur. We
shall meet again, I hope--"

"You have made that remark before," Maurice interrupted, tauntingly.
"Nothing is easier than to find me. The first peasant you meet will
point out the house of Baron d'Escorval."

"_Eh bien_! sir, I cannot promise that you will not see two of my
friends."

"Oh! whenever it may please you!"

"Certainly; but it would gratify me to know by what right you make
yourself the judge of Monsieur Lacheneur's honor, and take it upon
yourself to defend what has not been attacked. Who has given you this
right?"

From Martial's sneering tone, Maurice was certain that he had overheard,
at least a part of, his conversation with Marie-Anne.

"My right," he replied, "is that of friendship. If I tell you that your
advances are unwelcome, it is because I know that Monsieur Lacheneur
will accept nothing from you. No, nothing, under whatever guise you may
offer these alms which you tender merely to appease your own conscience.
He will never forgive the affront which is his honor and your shame. Ah!
you thought to degrade him, Messieurs de Sairmeuse! and you have lifted
him far above your mock grandeur. _He_ receive anything from you! Go;
learn