He vowed that he would be revenged for this, and for five years had been watching his opportunity, and this was the man whom Norbert met when he went to deliver his corn to the miller.

As he was coming back with his empty wagon, Daumon asked for a lift back as far as the cross road that led to his cottage.
"I trust, sir," said he with the most servile courtesy, "that you will excuse the liberty I take, but I am so utterly crippled with rheumatism that I can hardly walk, Marquis." Daumon had read somewhere that the eldest son of a Duke was entitled to be styled _Marquis_, and it was the first time that Norbert had been thus addressed.

Before this he would have laughed at the appellation, but now his wounded vanity, and his exasperation at the unhappy condition in which he found himself, tempted him to accept the title without remonstrance.
"All right, I can give you a lift," said he, and the Counsellor clambered into the cart.
All the time that he was showering thanks upon Norbert for his courtesy he was watching the young man's face carefully.
"Evidently," thought the Counsellor to himself, "something unusual has taken place at the Chateau de Champdoce.

Was not the opportunity for revenge here ?" Long since he had decided that through the son he could strike the father.

But he must be cautious.
"You must have been up very early, Marquis," said he.
The young man made no reply.
"The Duke," resumed Daumon, "is most fortunate in having such a son as you.