"I no more belong to myself than you belong to yourself, Monsieur," she faltered.

A gleam of hatred, quickly extinguished, shone in Martial's eye.

"Always Maurice!" said he.

"Always."

She expected an angry outburst, but he remained perfectly calm.

"Then," said he, with a forced smile, "I must believe this and other evidence. I must believe that you have forced me to play a most ridiculous part. Until now I doubted it."

The poor girl bowed her head, crimsoning with shame to the roots of her hair; but she made no attempt at denial.

"_I_ was not my own mistress," she stammered; "my father commanded and threatened, and I--I obeyed him."

"That matters little," he interrupted; "your role has not been that which a pure young girl should play."

It was the only reproach he had uttered, and still he regretted it, perhaps because he did not wish her to know how deeply he was wounded, perhaps because--as he afterward declared--he could not overcome his love for Marie-Anne.

"Now," he resumed, "I understand your presence here. You come to ask mercy for Monsieur d'Escorval."

"Not mercy, but justice. The baron is innocent."

Martial approached Marie-Anne, and lowering his voice:

"If the father is innocent," he whispered, "then it is the son who is guilty."

She recoiled in terror. He knew the secret which the judges could not, or would not penetrate.

But seeing her anguish, he had pity.

"Another reason," said he, "for attempting to save the baron! His blood shed upon the guillotine would form an impa.s.sable gulf between Maurice and you. I will join my efforts to yours."

Blushing and embarra.s.sed, Marie-Anne dared not thank him. How was she about to reward his generosity? By vilely traducing him. Ah! she would infinitely have preferred to see him angry and revengeful.

Just then a valet opened the door, and the Duc de Sairmeuse, still in full uniform, entered.

"Upon my word!" he exclaimed, as he crossed the threshold, "I must confess that Chupin is an admirable hunter. Thanks to him----"

He paused abruptly; he had not perceived Marie-Anne until now.

"The daughter of that scoundrel Lacheneur!" said he, with an air of the utmost surprise. "What does she desire here?"

The decisive moment had come--the life of the baron hung upon Marie-Anne's courage and address. The consciousness of the terrible responsibility devolving upon her restored her self-control and calmness as if by magic.

"I have a revelation to sell to you, Monsieur," she said, resolutely.

The duke regarded her with mingled wonder and curiosity; then, laughing heartily, he threw himself upon a sofa, exclaiming:

"Sell it, my pretty one--sell it!"

"I cannot speak until I am alone with you."

At a sign from his father, Martial left the room.

"You can speak now," said the duke.

She did not lose a second.

"You must have read, Monsieur," she began, "the circular convening the conspirators."

"Certainly; I have a dozen copies in my pocket."

"By whom do you suppose it was written?"

"By the elder d'Escorval, or by your father."

"You are mistaken, Monsieur; that letter was the work of the Marquis de Sairmeuse, your son."

The duke sprang up, fire flashing from his eyes, his face purple with anger.

"Zounds! girl! I advise you to bridle your tongue!"

"The proof of what I have a.s.serted exists."

"Silence, you hussy, or----"

"The lady who sends me here, Monsieur, possesses the original of this circular written by the hand of Monsieur Martial, and I am obliged to tell you----"

She did not have an opportunity to complete the sentence. The duke sprang to the door, and, in a voice of thunder, called his son.

As soon as Martial entered the room:

"Repeat," said the duke--"repeat before my son what you have just said to me."

Boldly, with head erect, and clear, firm voice, Marie-Anne repeated her accusation.

She expected, on the part of the marquis, an indignant denial, cruel reproaches, or an angry explanation. Not a word. He listened with a nonchalant air, and she almost believed she could read in his eyes an encouragement to proceed, and a promise of protection.

When she had concluded:

"Well!" demanded the duke, imperiously.

"First," replied Martial, lightly, "I would like to see this famous circular."

The duke handed him a copy.

"Here--read it."