Through all the preoccupations of science, the desire to see his native town, his house, his family, agitated Balthazar's mind.

His daughter's letters had told him of the happy family events; he dreamed of crowning his career by a series of experiments that must lead to the solution of the great Problem, and he awaited Marguerite's arrival with extreme impatience.
The daughter threw herself into her father's arms and wept for joy.

This time she came to seek a recompense for years of pain, and pardon for the exercise of her domestic authority.

She seemed to herself criminal, like those great men who violate the liberties of the people for the safety of the nation.

But she shuddered as she now contemplated her father and saw the change which had taken place in him since her last visit.
Monsieur Conyncks shared the secret alarm of his niece, and insisted on taking Balthazar as soon as possible to Douai, where the influence of his native place might restore him to health and reason amid the happiness of a recovered domestic life.
After the first transports of the heart were over,--which were far warmer on Balthazar's part than Marguerite had expected,--he showed a singular state of feeling towards his daughter.