"My father yesterday had the honor of asking of Monsieur Lacheneur the hand of his daughter----" "And I refused it!" cried a terrible voice.
Marie-Anne and both young men turned with the same movement of alarm and surprise.
M.Lacheneur stood before them, and by his side was Chanlouineau, who surveyed the group with threatening eyes.
"Yes, I refused it," resumed M.Lacheneur, "and I do not believe that my daughter will marry anyone without my consent.

What did you promise me this morning, Marie-Anne?
Can it be you, you who grant a rendezvous to gallants in the forest?
Return to the house, instantly----" "But father----" "Return!" he repeated with an oath; "return, I command you." She obeyed and departed, not without giving Maurice a look in which he read a farewell that she believed would be eternal.
As soon as she had gone, perhaps twenty paces, M.Lacheneur, with folded arms, confronted Maurice.
"As for you, Monsieur d'Escorval," said he, rudely, "I hope that you will no longer undertake to prowl around my daughter----" "I swear to you, Monsieur--" "Oh, no oaths, if you please.

It is an evil action to endeavor to turn a young girl from her duty, which is obedience.

You have broken forever all relations between your family and mine." The poor youth tried to excuse himself, but M.Lacheneur interrupted him.
"Enough! enough!" said he; "go back to your home." And as Maurice hesitated, he seized him by the collar and dragged him to the little footpath leading through the grove.
It was the work of scarcely ten seconds, and yet, he found time to whisper in the young man's ear, in his formerly friendly tones: "Go, you little wretch! do you wish to render all my precautions useless ?" He watched Maurice as he disappeared, bewildered by the scene he had just witnessed, and stupefied by what he had just heard; and it was not until he saw that young d'Escorval was out of hearing that he turned to Martial.
"As I have had the honor of meeting you, Monsieur le Marquis," said he, "I deem it my duty to inform you that Chupin and his sons are searching for you everywhere.

It is at the instance of the duke, your father, who is anxious for you to repair at once to the Chateau de Courtornieu." He turned to Chanlouineau, and added: "We will now proceed on our way." But Martial detained him with a gesture.
"I am much surprised to hear that they are seeking me," said he.