.

"And why, pray? Who will prevent me from doing it?"

"No one, most assuredly. But you will decide, on reflection, that a
man who has not conducted himself _too_ badly has a right to some
consideration."

The duke seemed greatly astonished.

"Consideration!" he exclaimed. "This rascal has a right to some
consideration! Well, this is one of the poorest of jokes. What! I give
him--that is to say--you give him a hundred thousand francs, and that
will not content him! He is entitled to consideration! You, who are
after the daughter, may give it to him if you like, but I shall do as I
like!"

"Very well; but, Monsieur, I would think twice, if I were in your place.
Lacheneur has surrendered Sairmeuse. That is all very well; but how can
you authenticate your claim to the property? What would you do if, in
case you imprudently irritated him, he should change his mind? What
would become of your right to the estate?"

M. Sairmeuse actually turned green.

"Zounds!" he exclaimed. "I had not thought of that. Here, you fellows,
take all these things back again, and that quickly!"

And as they were obeying his order:

"Now," he remarked, "let us hasten to Courtornieu. They have already
sent for us twice. It must be business of the utmost importance which
demands our attention."

CHAPTER XIII

The Chateau de Courtornieu is, next to Sairmeuse, the most magnificent
habitation in the _arrondissement_ of Montaignac.

The approach to the castle was by a long and narrow road, badly paved.
When the carriage containing Martial and his father turned from the
public highway into this rough road, the jolting aroused the duke from
the profound revery into which he had fallen on leaving Sairmeuse.

The marquis thought that he had caused this unusual fit of abstraction.

"It is the result of my adroit manoeuvre," he said to himself, not
without secret satisfaction. "Until the restitution of Sairmeuse is
legalized, I can make my father do anything I wish; yes, anything. And
if it is necessary, he will even invite Lacheneur and Marie-Anne to his
table."

He was mistaken. The duke had already forgotten the affair; his most
vivid impressions lasted no longer than an indentation in the sand.

He lowered the glass in front of the carriage, and, after ordering the
coachman to drive more slowly:

"Now," said he to his son, "let us talk a little. Are you really in love
with that little Lacheneur?"

Martial could not repress a st