be the more bound together by shame than by all the ceremonies
of the church."

This was surely the mode she would adopt to break a marriage which
was so hateful to her; and Tremorel trembled at the idea of Sauvresy
knowing all.

"What would he do," thought he, "if Bertha told him? He would kill
me off-hand--that's what I would do in his place. Suppose he
didn't; I should have to fight a duel with him, and if I killed him,
quit the country. Whatever would happen, my marriage is irrevocably
broken, and Bertha seems to be on my hands for all time."

He saw no possible way out of the horrible situation in which he had
put himself.

"I must wait," thought he.

And he waited, going secretly to the mayor's, for he really loved
Laurence. He waited, devoured by anxiety, struggling between
Sauvresy's urgency and Bertha's threats. How he detested this woman
who held him, whose will weighed so heavily on him! Nothing could
curb her ferocious obstinacy. She had one fixed idea. He had
thought to conciliate her by dismissing Jenny. It was a mistake.
When he said to her:

"Bertha, I shall never see Jenny again."

She answered, ironically:

"Mademoiselle Courtois will be very grateful to you!"

That evening, while Sauvresy was crossing the court-yard, he saw a
beggar at the gate, making signs to him.

"What do you want, my good man?"

The beggar looked around to see that no one was listening.

"I have brought you a note," said he, rapidly, and in a low tone.
"I was told to give it, only to you, and to ask you to read it when
you are alone."

He mysteriously slipped a note, carefully sealed, into Sauvresy's
hand.

"It comes from pretty girl," added he, winking.

Sauvresy, turning his back to the house, opened it and read:

"SIR--You will do a great favor to a poor and unhappy girl, if
you will come to-morrow to the Belle Image, at Corbeil, where
you will be awaited all day.

"Your humble servant,
"JENNY F---."

There was also a postscript.

"Please, sir, don't say a word of this to the Count de Tremorel."

"Ah ha," thought Sauvresy, "there's some trouble about Hector,
that's bad for the marriage."

"I was told, sir," said the beggar, "there would be an answer."

"Say that I will come," answered Sauvresy, throwing him a franc piece.

XVII

The next day was cold and damp. A fog, so thick that one could not
discern objects ten steps off, hung over the earth.