I fancy a good number of us, when any line of action will promote our own interest, can make ourselves believe that reasons exist which compel us to it as a duty.
"In the course of a very few days, Pierre had so circumvented Virginie as to have discovered that her new friend was no other than the Norman farmer in a different dress.

This was a great piece of knowledge to impart to Morin.

But Pierre was not prepared for the immediate physical effect it had on his cousin.

Morin sat suddenly down on one of the seats in the Boulevards--it was there Pierre had met with him accidentally--when he heard who it was that Virginie met.

I do not suppose the man had the faintest idea of any relationship or even previous acquaintanceship between Clement and Virginie.