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Updated: May 19, 2025
The others had not yet arrived; he fastened his horse to a tree near by, and leisurely climbed to the summit of the hill. This spot had been the site of Lacheneur's house. The four walls remained standing, blackened by fire. Martial was contemplating the ruins, not without deep emotion, when he heard a sharp crackling in the underbrush.
She drew from her belt where she had placed it, Mlle. Lacheneur's letter and read: "'My dear blanche You know that the Duc de Sairmeuse has returned. The news fell upon us like a thunder-bolt. My father and I had become too much accustomed to regard as our own the deposit which had been intrusted to our fidelity; we have been punished for it. At least, we have done our duty, and now all is ended.
Chanlouineau admitted that he did not know, but declared that Marie-Anne, Lacheneur's daughter, knew her father's hiding-place. She had, he declared, perfect confidence in him; and if they would only send for her, and allow him ten minutes' private conversation with her, he was sure he could obtain the secret of her father's place of concealment. So the bargain was quickly concluded.
She did not doubt the reports which had reached her ears, of Martial's frequent visits to Marie-Anne, but she wished to see for herself. So, as soon as she left her father, she obliged Aunt Medea to dress herself, and without vouchsafing a single word of explanation, took her with her to the Reche, and stationed herself where she could command a view of M. Lacheneur's house.
Blanche was bound to him by the strongest of chains complicity in crime. He saw himself on the threshold of a life of ease and continual feasting. Remorse for Lacheneur's betrayal had ceased to trouble him. He saw himself sumptuously fed, lodged and clothed; above all, effectually guarded by an army of servants.
Seeing his father prostrate on the ground, he thought he was intoxicated, and tried to lift him and carry him into the house, but the old poacher begged him to desist. "Do not touch me," said he. "It is all over with me; but listen; Lacheneur's daughter has just been poisoned by Madame Blanche. It was to tell you this that I dragged myself here.
"I had them a fortnight ago; now I have nothing. I can hope to obtain this sum only through the generosity of the Duc de Sairmeuse and his son." These words from Lacheneur's lips astonished the baron. Lacheneur perceived it, and it was with every appearance of sincerity and good faith that he resumed: "Does what I say surprise you? I understand why.
"I was Lacheneur's friend," said the baron; "it was perfectly natural that he should come to me for consolation after a great misfortune." M. de Sairmeuse turned to his colleague. "You hear that!" said he. "This d'Escorval calls the restitution of a deposit a great misfortune! Go on, witness." "In the second place," resumed Chupin, "the accused was always prowling about Lacheneur's house."
We might have made them our faithful and devoted friends. It was our duty, as well as in our interests, to have done so. We did not understand this; we humiliated, ruined, exasperated them. It was a fault for which we must atone. Who knows but, in Jean Lacheneur's place, I should have done what he has done?"
Marquis," remarked his father one day, "Chupin tells me you are always at Lacheneur's. When will you recover from your penchant for that little girl?" Martial did not reply. He felt that he was at that "little girl's" mercy. Each glance of hers made his heart throb wildly. By her side he was a willing captive. If she had asked him to make her his wife he would not have said no.
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