Never return here; our house is accursed.

The fate that overshadows us will ruin you also." She spoke almost wildly.

Her voice was so loud that it penetrated an adjoining room.
The communicating door opened and M.Lacheneur appeared upon the threshold.
At the sight of M.d'Escorval he uttered an oath.

But there was more sorrow and anxiety than anger in his manner, as he said: "You, Monsieur, you here!" The consternation into which Marie-Anne's words had thrown M.d'Escorval was so intense that it was with great difficulty he stammered out a response.
"You have abandoned us entirely; I was anxious about you.

Have you forgotten our old friendship?
I come to you----" The brow of the former master of Sairmeuse remained overcast.
"Why did you not inform me of the honor that the baron had done me, Marie-Anne ?" he said sternly.
She tried to speak, but could not; and it was the baron who replied: "Why, I have but just come, my dear friend." M.Lacheneur looked suspiciously, first at his daughter, then at the baron.
"What did they say to each other while they were alone ?" he was evidently wondering.
But, however great may have been his disquietude, he seemed to master it; and it was with his old-time affability of manner that he invited M.
d'Escorval to follow him into the adjoining room.
"It is my reception-room and my cabinet combined," he said, smiling.
This room, which was much larger than the first, was as scantily furnished; but it contained several piles of small books and an infinite number of tiny packages.
Two men were engaged in arranging and sorting these articles.
One was Chanlouineau.
M.d'Escorval did not remember that he had ever seen the other, who was a young man.
"This is my son, Jean, Monsieur," said Lacheneur.