taken the Baron d'Escorval and his family would be forced to leave
France forever!

The company hesitated; Martial saw it, and felt that a single word from
him, for or against, would decide the matter.

After a few minutes of frightful uncertainty, honor triumphed.

He rose and declared that the proposed measure was bad--impolitic.

"Monsieur d'Escorval," he remarked, "is one of those men who diffuse
around them a perfume of honesty and justice. Have the good sense to
respect the consideration which is justly his."

As he had foreseen, his words decided the matter. The cold and haughty
manner which he knew so well how to assume, his few but incisive words,
produced a great effect.

"It would evidently be a great mistake!" was the general cry.

Martial reseated himself; Mlle. Blanche leaned toward him.

"You have done well," she murmured; "you know how to defend your
friends."

"Monsieur d'Escorval is not my friend," replied Martial, in a voice
which revealed the struggle through which he had passed. "The injustice
of the proposed measure incensed me, that is all."

Mlle. de Courtornieu was not to be deceived by an explanation like this.