he scornfully
repulsed him, and his vanity was so deeply wounded that he persecuted
the poor girl to such an extent that she was obliged to complain, first
to Madame Greloux, who--to her shame be it said--treated these insults
as mere nonsense; and afterward to Greloux himself, who was probably
delighted to have an opportunity of ridding himself of his indolent
brother-in-law, for he turned him out of the house."

The thought that so vile a rascal as this man Vantrasson should have
dared to insult Marguerite made Pascal frantic with indignation. "The
wretch!" he exclaimed; "the wretch!" But without seeming to notice her
son's anger, Madame Ferailleur continued: "They pretended they had not
seen their former apprentice since she had been living in grandeur,
as they expressed it. But in this they lied to me. For they saw her at
least once, and that was on the day she brought them twenty thousand
francs, which proved the nucleus of their fortune. They did not mention
this fact, however."

"Dear Marguerite!" murmured Pascal, "dear Marguerite!" And then aloud:
"But where did you learn these last details, mother?" he inquired.

"At the asylum where Mademoiselle Marguerite was brought up, and there,
too, I only heard words of praise. 'Never,' said the superior, 'have I
had a more gifted, sweeter-tempered or more attractive charge.' They had
reproached her sometimes for being too reserved, and her self-respect
had often been mistaken for inordinate pride; but she had not forgotten
the asylum any more than she had forgotten her former patrons. On one
occasion the superior received from her the sum of twenty-five thousand
francs, and a year ago she presented the institution with one hundred
thousand francs, the yearly income of which is to constitute the
marriage dowry of some deserving orphan."

Pascal was greatly elated. "Well, mother!" he exclaimed, "well, is
it strange that I love her?" Madame Ferailleur made no reply, and a
sorrowful apprehension seized hold of him. "You are silent," said he,
"and why? When the blessed day that will allow me to wed Marguerite
arrives, you surely won't oppose our marriage?"

"No, my son, nothing that I have learned gives me the right to do so."

"The right! Ah, you are unjust, mother."

"Unjust! Haven't I faithfully reported all that was told me, although I
knew it would only increase your passion?"

"That's true, but----"

Madame Ferailleur sadly shook her head. "Do you think," she