To speak plainly, even while we were in Montaignac, Monsieur Lacheneur's enemies succeeded in prejudicing my father against him." One would have sworn that he was speaking the truth, so persuasive was his voice, so entirely did the expression of his face, his glance, and his gestures accord with his words.
And Maurice, who felt--who was certain that the young man was lying, impudently lying, was abashed by this scientific prevarication which is so universally practised in good society, and of which he was entirely ignorant.
But what did the marquis desire here--and why this farce?
"Need I tell you, Mademoiselle," he resumed, "all that I suffered last evening in the little drawing-room in the presbytery?
No, never in my whole life can I recollect such a cruel moment.

I understood, and I did honor to Monsieur Lacheneur's heroism.

Hearing of our arrival, he, without hesitation, without delay, hastened to voluntarily surrender a princely fortune--and he was insulted.

This excessive injustice horrified me.

And if I did not openly protest against it--if I did not show my indignation--it was only because contradiction drives my father to the verge of frenzy.