Ah! if they obtain it they will demand an
investigation, and then farewell to the rewards due to my services.
"It will be shouted from the house-tops that Chanlouineau, in the
presence of the tribunal, declared you, Marquis, his leader and his
accomplice. You will be obliged to submit to the scrutiny of physicians,
who, seeing a freshly healed wound, will require you to tell where you
received it, and why you concealed it.
"Of what shall I _not_ be accused? They will say that I expedited
matters in order to silence the voice that had been raised against
my son. Perhaps they will even say that I secretly favored the
insurrection; I shall be vilified in the journals.
"And who has thus ruined the fortunes of our house, that promised so
brilliantly? You, you alone, Marquis.
"You believe in nothing, you doubt everything--you are cold, sceptical,
disdainful, _blase_. But a pretty woman makes her appearance on the
scene. You go wild like a school-boy and are ready to commit any act of
folly. It is you who I am addressing, Marquis. Do you hear me? Speak!
what have you to say?"
Martial had listened to this tirade with unconcealed scorn, and without
even attempting to interrupt it.
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