ng Marquis de
Beaujardin, who came here to St. Sulpice for the purpose."

"Fool! idiot! do you know what you are saying? There has been no
marriage at the convent to-day. Are you mad?"

"Pardon me, madame," replied the priest, with dignity. "Even your
ladyship's rank, whoever you may be, cannot excuse such expressions
towards one of my holy calling. What I have told you is the simple
truth. Little as I like these hasty and irregular proceedings, you
must be well aware that one in my humble position must needs do the
bidding of those who have a right to dictate to him in such matters.
The persons I have named to you were married by me this morning soon
after daybreak at the chapel of St. Sulpice."

For a little while Madame de Valricour seemed utterly confounded. As
soon as she regained her self-control she demanded of the priest a full
account of what had occurred.

"It was simply thus," said he. "Quite early this morning Colonel de
Beaujardin, whom I know of course by sight, came to me, and, not
without some agitation, told me that he wished to speak to me as to the
possibility of his being united to Mademoiselle Lacroix, who had come
to the village under circumstances of peculiar difficulty arising out
of some family differences. I told him that I had already received
directions respecting the marriage of Mademoiselle Lacroix on her
arrival here, though of course I knew nothing of the private matters to
which he alluded, and that it was not for me to enter into them. He
seemed somewhat astonished."

"No doubt. I should think so indeed," muttered the baroness between
her teeth. "What next?"

"I assumed, as a matter of course, that the family desired the marriage
to be kept secret on account of the disparity in the rank of the young
people; but this was no business of mine, and I simply asked him
whether I should repair to the convent, and at what hour. He then told
me that it was his wish that the marriage should be solemnised, not at
the convent, but at our little chapel here, adding that he would
arrange, if possible, to meet me there in an hour's time. He did so,
and the marriage took place in the presence of Michel Greboeuf and his
wife. I have nothing more to add."

"You have said enough, in all conscience," ejaculated the baroness,
passionately. "But you shall pay dearly for this, miserable creature!"
and with these words the enraged lady hurried away, leaving the good
old priest as thunde