Still she added:

"Then your conduct is all the more grand, Monsieur."

But such was not the opinion of the Duc de Sairmeuse. On returning to
the chateau some hours later he reproached his son for his intervention.

"Why the devil did you meddle with the matter?" inquired the duke. "I
would not have liked to take upon myself the odium of the proposition,
but since it had been made----"

"I was anxious to prevent such an act of useless folly!"

"Useless folly! Zounds! Marquis, you carry matters with a high hand. Do
you think that this d----d baron adores you? What would you say if you
heard that he was conspiring against us?"

"I should answer with a shrug of the shoulders."

"You would! Very well; do me the favor to question Chupin."



CHAPTER XV

It was only two weeks since the Duc de Sairmeuse had returned to France;
he had not yet had time to shake the dust of exile from his feet, and
already his imagination saw enemies on every side.

He had been at Sairmeuse only two days, and yet he unhesitatingly