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Updated: June 20, 2025
Maurice was intoxicated with joy. He understood the irregularity of such a marriage, but he knew it would reassure Marie-Anne's troubled conscience. Poor girl! she was suffering an agony of remorse. It was that which was killing her. He did not speak to her on the subject, however, fearing something might occur to interfere with the project.
It was toward the Chateau de Courtornieu that he hastened. The reason of Mme. Blanche had sustained a frightful shock, when Chupin was obliged to lift her and carry her from Marie-Anne's chamber. But she lost consciousness entirely when she saw the old poacher stricken down by her side. On and after that night Aunt Medea took her revenge for all the slights she had received.
But jealous of his renown for perspicuity, he gave her clearly to understand that he, being a man of experience, had divined that love alone had dictated Chanlouineau's last will and testament. Marie-Anne's composure and resignation made him really angry. "You forget what brings me here," she said; "you do not tell me what I have to do!"
Time flies and the future is ominous." As he spoke, he went to the door and applied first his eye, then his ear to the opening, to see that there were no spies without. No one was in the corridor; he could not hear a sound. He came back to Marie-Anne's side, and tearing the sleeve of his jacket open with his teeth, he drew from it two letters, wrapped carefully in a piece of cloth.
The few moments that she had passed alone, after Marie-Anne's departure, she had spent in grave reflection. Martial's mind and person pleased her. In him were combined all the qualifications which any ambitious woman would desire in a husband and she decided that he should be her husband.
"Marie-Anne's fate will be that of all women who have devoted themselves to the political advancement of the man whom they love, be he father, brother, or lover. She will be slandered, insulted, calumniated. What does it matter? She may continue her task. I consent to it, for I shall never doubt her, and I shall know how to hold my peace. If we succeed, she shall be my wife; if we fail "
It had been more than a year since she died; but the little pathway which her patient feet had worn in the performance of this daily task was still distinctly visible. This was the path which M. d'Escorval, faithful to his resolution, took the following day, in the hope of wresting from Marie-Anne's father the secret of his inexplicable conduct.
"See what you have missed, M'sieu Carrigan!" "I received something which I shall remember longer than a fine nursing," retorted David. "And yet right now I have a greater interest in knowing what you think of the fight, St. Pierre and if you have come to pay your wager." St. Pierre was chuckling mysteriously in his throat. "It was splendid splendid," he said, repeating Marie-Anne's words.
She remained three years in foreign lands. Each week during all that time she received one letter, at least, from Chupin. Ah! many a time she envied the lot of her victim! What was Marie-Anne's death compared with the life she led?
"And yet they must have a little doubt, as there is betting, and it takes two to make a bet," chuckled David. The lines went out of Marie-Anne's forehead, and a half-smile trembled on her red lips. "Yes, there is betting. But those who are for you are offering next autumn's muskrat skins and frozen fish against lynx and fisher and marten.
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