your enemies will be far more profitable to Mademoiselle
Marguerite than vain threats and weak lamentations. It seemed to
me that you had sworn to act, not to complain."

This ironical thrust touched Pascal's sensitive mind to the quick;
he rose at once to his feet, and coldly said, "That's true. I
thank you for having recalled me to myself."

She made no rejoinder, but mentally thanked God. She had read her
son's heart, and perceiving his hesitation and weakness she had
supplied the stimulus he needed. Now she saw him as she wished to
see him. Now he was ready to reproach himself for his lack of
courage and his weakness in displaying his feelings. And as a
test of his powers of endurance, he decided not to question Madame
Vantrasson till four or five days had elapsed. If her suspicions
had been aroused, this delay would suffice to dispel them.

He said but little during breakfast; for he was now eager to
commence the struggle. He longed to act, and yet he scarcely knew
how to begin the campaign. First of all, he must study the
enemy's position--gain some knowledge of the men he had to deal
with, find out exactly who the Marquis de Valorsay and the
Viscount de Coralth were. Where could he obtain information
respecting these two men? Should he be compelled to follow them
and to gather up here and there such scraps of intelligence as
came in his way? This method of proceeding would be slow and
inconvenient in the extreme. He was revolving the subject in his
mind when he suddenly remembered the man who, on the morning that
followed the scene at Madame d'Argeles's house, had come to him in
the Rue d'Ulm to give him a proof of his confidence. He