But his penetration was not at fault. While waiting to find a revenge
which would be worthy of her, Mlle. Blanche armed herself with a weapon
of which jealousy and hatred so often avail themselves--calumny.
Two or three abominable stories which she concocted, and which she
forced Aunt Medea to circulate everywhere, did not produce the desired
effect.
Marie-Anne's reputation was, of course, ruined by them; but Martial's
visits, instead of ceasing, became longer and more frequent.
Dissatisfied with his progress, and fearful that he was being duped, he
even watched the house.
So it happened that, one evening, when he was quite sure that Lacheneur,
his son, and Chanlouineau were absent, Martial saw a man leave the house
and hasten across the fields.
He rushed after him, but the man escaped him.
He believed, however, that he recognized Maurice d'Escorval.
CHAPTER XVIII
After his son's confession, M. d'Escorval was prudent enough to make no
allusion to the hopes he, himself, entertained.
"My poor Maurice," he thought, "is heart-broken, but resigned.
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