preparing Sairmeuse for the reception of the duke; and he had already
discovered the secret of making himself useful to his master, which was
by seeming to be indispensable.

"Ah, Monsieur," he cried, "we have been searching for you everywhere, my
son and I. It was Monsieur le Duc----"

"Very well," said Martial, dryly. "I am returning----"

But Chupin was not sensitive; and although he had not been very
favorably received, he ventured to follow the marquis at a little
distance, but sufficiently near to make himself heard. He also had
his schemes; for it was not long before he began a long recital of the
calumnies which had been spread about the neighborhood in regard to the
Lacheneur affair. Why did he choose this subject in preference to any
other? Did he suspect the young marquis's passion for Marie-Anne?

According to this report, Lacheneur--he no longer said "monsieur"--was
unquestionably a rascal; the complete surrender of Sairmeuse was only
a farce, as he must possess thousands, and hundreds of thousands of
francs, since he was about to marry his daughter.

If the scoundrel had felt only suspicions, they were changed into
certainty by the eagerness with which Martial demanded:

"How! is Mademoiselle Lacheneur to be married?"

"Yes, Monsieur."

"And to whom?"