eople,
gravely.

"An honest girl would have had no such luck as that!" muttered the
unattractive maidens who had not been fortunate enough to secure
husbands.

This was the great news which Chupin brought to Mme. Blanche.

She listened to it, trembling with anger, her hands so convulsively
clinched that the nails penetrated the flesh.

"What audacity!" she exclaimed. "What impudence!"

The old poacher seemed to be of the same opinion.

"If each of her lovers gives her as much she will be richer than a
queen. She will have enough to buy both Sairmeuse and Courtornieu, if
she chooses," he remarked, maliciously.

If he had desired to augment the rage of Mme. Blanche, he had good
reason to be satisfied.

"And this is the woman who has alienated Martial's heart from me!" she
exclaimed. "It is for this miserable wretch that he abandons me!"

The unworthiness of the unfortunate girl whom she regarded as her
rival, incensed her to such a degree that she entirely forgot Chupin's
presence. She made no attempt to restrain herself or to hide the secret
of her sufferings.

"Are you sure that what you tell me is true?" she asked.

"As sure as that you stand there."

"Who told you all this?"

"No one--I have eyes. I went to the Borderie yesterday to see for
myself, and all the shutters were open. Marie-Anne was leaning out of a
window. She does not even wear mourning, the heartless hussy!"

Poor Marie-Anne, indeed, had no dress but the one which Mme. d'Escorval
had given her on the night of the insurrection, when she laid aside her
masculine habiliments.

Chupin wished to irritate Mme. Blanche still more by other malicious
remarks, but she checked him by a gesture.

"So you know the way to the Borderie?" she inquired.

"Perfectly."

"Where is it?"

"Opposite the mills of the Oiselle, near the river, about a league and a
half from here."

"That is true. I remember now. Were you ever in the house?"

"More than a hundred times while Chanlouineau was living."

"Explain the topography of the dwelling!"

Chupin's eyes dilated to their widest extent.

"What do you wish?" he asked, not understanding in the least what was
required of him.

"I mean, explain how the house is constructed."

"Ah! now I understand. The house is built upon an open space a little
distance from the road. Before it is a small garden, and behind it an
orchard enclosed by a hedge. Back of the orchard, to the right, are the
vineyards; b