Blanche armed herself with a weapon of which jealousy and hatred so often avail themselves--calumny.
Two or three abominable stories which she concocted, and which she forced Aunt Medea to circulate everywhere, did not produce the desired effect.
Marie-Anne's reputation was, of course, ruined by them; but Martial's visits, instead of ceasing, became longer and more frequent.
Dissatisfied with his progress, and fearful that he was being duped, he even watched the house.
So it happened that, one evening, when he was quite sure that Lacheneur, his son, and Chanlouineau were absent, Martial saw a man leave the house and hasten across the fields.
He rushed after him, but the man escaped him.
He believed, however, that he recognized Maurice d'Escorval..