Yet it was necessary to make some response, and to preserve the
superiority which he imagined he had maintained up to that time.

"You will never know, Monsieur," he said, glancing alternately at his
gun and at Marie-Anne, "all that you owe to Mademoiselle Lacheneur. We
shall meet again, I hope--"

"You have made that remark before," Maurice interrupted, tauntingly.
"Nothing is easier than to find me. The first peasant you meet will
point out the house of Baron d'Escorval."

"_Eh bien_! sir, I cannot promise that you will not see two of my
friends."

"Oh! whenever it may please you!"

"Certainly; but it would gratify me to know by what right you make
yourself the judge of Monsieur Lacheneur's honor, and take it upon
yourself to defend what has not been attacked. Who has given you this
right?"

From Martial's sneering tone, Maurice was certain that he had overheard,
at least a part of, his conversation with Marie-Anne.

"My right," he replied, "is that of friendship. If I tell you that your
advances are unwelcome, it is because I know that Monsieur Lacheneur
will accept nothing from you. No, nothing, under whatever guise you may
offer these alms which you tender merely to appease your own conscience.
He will never forgive the affront which is his honor and your shame. Ah!