“How are the rooms furnished which you have visited?” “Like those in any peasant’s house.” Certainly no one was aware of the existence of the luxurious apartment which Chanlouineau had intended for Marie-Anne. He had never spoken of it, and had even taken the greatest precautions to prevent anyone from seeing him transport the furniture. “How many doors are there?” inquired Blanche. “Three; one opening into the garden, another into the orchard, another communicating with the stables. The staircase leading to the floor above is in the middle room.” “And is Marie-Anne alone at the Borderie?” “Entirely alone at present; but I suppose it will not be long before her brigand of a brother joins her.” Mme. Blanche fell into a revery so deep and so prolonged that Chupin at last became impatient. He ventured to touch her upon the arm, and, in a wily voice, he said: “Well, what shall we decide?” Blanche shuddered like a wounded man on hearing the terrible click of the surgeon’s instruments. “My mind is not yet made up,” she replied. “I must reflect--I will see.” And remarking the old poacher’s discontented face, she said, vehemently: “I will do nothing lightly. Do not lose sight of Martial. If he goes to the Borderie, and he will go there, I must be informed of it. If he writes, and he will write, try to procure one of his letters. I must see you every other day. Do not rest! Strive to deserve the good place I am reserving for you at Courtornieu. Go!” He departed without a word, but also without attempting to conceal his disappointment and chagrin. “It serves you right for listening to a silly, affected woman,” he growled. “She fills the air with her ravings; she wishes to kill everybody, to burn and destroy everything. She only asks for an opportunity. The occasion presents itself, and her heart fails her. She draws back--she is afraid!” Chupin did Mme. Blanche great injustice. The movement of horror which he had observed was the instinctive revolt of the flesh, and not a faltering of her inflexible will. Her reflections were not of a nature to appease her rancor. Whatever Chupin and all Sairmeuse might say to the contrary, Blanche regarded this story of Marie-Anne’s travels as a ridiculous fable. In her opinion, Marie-Anne had simply emerged from the retreat where Martial had deemed it prudent to conceal her. But why this sudden reappearance? The vindictive woman was ready to swear that it was out of mere bravado, and intended only as an insult to her. “And I will have my revenge,” she thought. “I would tear my heart out if it were capable of cowardly weakness under such provocation!” The voice of conscience was unheard in this tumult of passion. Her sufferings, and Jean Lacheneur’s attempt upon her father’s life seemed to justify the most extreme measures.