seen leaving Lacheneur's house.

Martial was not certain of it, but the very possibility made his heart
swell with anger.

"What part am I playing here, then?" he exclaimed, indignantly.

He had been so completely blinded by passion that he would not have been
likely to discover the real condition of affairs even if no pains had
been taken to deceive him.

Lacheneur's formal courtesy and politeness he regarded as sincere.
He believed in the studied respect shown him by Jean; and the almost
servile obsequiousness of Chanlouineau did not surprise him in the
least.

And since Marie-Anne welcomed him politely, he concluded that his suit
was progressing favorably.

Having himself forgotten, he supposed that everyone else had ceased to
remember.

Moreover, he was of the opinion that he had acted with great generosity,
and that he was entitled to the deep gratitude of the Lacheneur family;
for M. Lacheneur had received the legacy bequeathed him by Mlle.
Armande, and an indemnity, besides all the furniture he had chosen to
take from the chateau, a total of at least sixty thousand francs.

"He must be hard to please, if he is not satisfied!" growled the duke,
enraged at such prodigality, though it did not cost him a penny.