The lower things were flying from it, a spirit of womanhood was living in her--feebly, but truly, living.

She was now conscious of the insanity of her pursuit of Carnac.

For a few moments she stood silent, and then she said with agitation: "If I give this up"-- she took from her breast the blue document--"he'd be safe in his election, and he'd marry you: is it not so, ma'm'selle ?" "He'd be safe for his election, but he has never asked me to marry him, and there are others besides him."-- She was thinking of Tarboe.

"Tell me," she added suddenly, "to whom have you told this thing in Montreal?
Did you mean to challenge him yourself ?" "I told it only to M'sieu' Barouche, and he said he would use it at the right moment--and the right moment has come," she added.

"He asked me for a copy of it last night, and I said I'd give it to him to-day.
It's because of him I've been here quiet all these weeks as Ma'm'selle Larue." "He is worse than you, mademoiselle, for he has known Carnac's family, and he has no excuse.