ns at exorbitant rates of interest. He
gave most disputants counsel, and had every point of law at his
fingers' ends. He could teach people how to sail as close to the wind as
possible, and yet to be beyond the reach of the law. He affected to be
only too anxious to ameliorate the lot of the peasant class, and yet he
was drawing heavy sums from them by way of interest. He endeavored by
every means in his power to rouse their feelings of animosity against
both the priesthood and the gentry. His artful way of talking, and
the long black coat which he wore, had given him the nickname of the
"Counsellor" in the district. The reason why he disliked the Duke was
because the latter had more than once shown himself hostile to him,
and had taken him before the court of justice, from which Daumon only
escaped by means of bribery of suborned witnesses. 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. I know more than one father who says to his children, 'See what an
excellent example the young Marquis de Champdoc