"Yours is a noble and useful life.
Mine is not without value, either.

Shall we suffer these lives--aye, and the happiness of your wife and daughter--to be destroyed by this vermin ?" "Let him go, monsieur; let him go.

I am not afraid." I bowed and stepped back, motioning to the lacquey to take the fellow away, much as I should have motioned him to remove some uncleanness from before me.
The Vicomtesse withdrew in high dudgeon to her chamber, and I did not see her again that evening.

Mademoiselle I saw once, for a moment, and she employed that moment to question me touching the origin of my quarrel with Saint-Eustache.
"Did he really lie, Monsieur de Lesperon ?" she asked.
"Upon my honour, mademoiselle," I answered solemnly, "I have plighted my troth to no living woman." Then my chin sank to my breast as I bethought me of how tomorrow she must opine me the vilest liar living--for I was resolved to be gone before Marsac arrived--since the real Lesperon I did not doubt was, indeed, betrothed to Mademoiselle de Marsac.
"I shall leave Lavedan betimes to-morrow, mademoiselle," I pursued presently.

"What has happened to-day makes my departure all the more urgent.