He rose and offered the visitors chairs.

"Will you take a seat, dear Monsieur Lacheneur?" said he, with
a politeness intended as a lesson for the duke; "and you, also,
Mademoiselle, do me the honor----"

But the father and the daughter both refused the proffered civility with
a motion of the head.

"Monsieur le Duc," continued Lacheneur, "I am an old servant of your
house----"

"Ah! indeed!"

"Mademoiselle Armande, your aunt, accorded my poor mother the honor of
acting as my godmother----"

"Ah, yes," interrupted the duke. "I remember you now. Our family
has shown great goodness to you and yours. And it was to prove your
gratitude, probably, that you made haste to purchase our estate!"

The former ploughboy was of humble origin, but his heart and his
character had developed with his fortunes; he understood his own worth.

Much as he was disliked, and even detested, by his neighbors, everyone
respected him.

And here was a man who treated him with undisguised scorn. Why? By what
right?