"Permit me to hope that Monsieur Lacheneur will be less severe than yourself; and that his resentment--just, I confess, will vanish before"-- he hesitated--"before a truthful explanation." Such an expression from the lips of this haughty young aristocrat! Was it possible?
Martial profited by the effect he had produced to advance toward Marie-Anne, and, addressing himself exclusively to her, seemed after that to ignore the presence of Maurice completely.
"For there has been a mistake--a misunderstanding, Mademoiselle," he continued.

"Do not doubt it.

The Sairmeuse are not ingrates.

How could anyone have supposed that we would intentionally give offense to a--devoted friend of our family, and that at a moment when he had rendered us a most signal service! A true gentleman like my father, and a hero of probity like yours, cannot fail to esteem each other.

I admit that in the scene of yesterday, Monsieur de Sairmeuse did not appear to advantage; but the step he takes today proves his sincere regret." Certainly this was not the cavalier tone which he had employed in addressing Marie-Anne, for the first time, on the square in front of the church.
He had removed his hat, he remained half inclined before her, and he spoke in a tone of profound respect, as though it were a haughty duchess, and not the humble daughter of that "rascal" Lacheneur whom he was addressing.
Was it only a _roue's_ manoeuvre?
Or had he also involuntarily submitted to the power of this beautiful girl?
It was both; and it would have been difficult for him to say where the voluntary ended, and where the involuntary began.
He continued: "My father is an old man who has suffered cruelly.