It is through Marie-Anne that Lacheneur exerts such an influence over Chanlouineau and the Marquis de Sairmeuse.

If she became your wife to-day, they would desert him tomorrow.

Then, too, it is precisely because he loves us that he is determined we shall not be mixed up in an enterprise the success of which is extremely doubtful.
But these are mere conjectures." "Then I see that it is necessary to submit, to be resigned; forget, I cannot," faltered Maurice.
He said this because he wished to reassure his father; but he thought exactly the opposite.
"If Lacheneur is organizing a conspiracy," he said, to himself, "he must need assistance.

Why should I not offer mine?
If I aid him in his preparations, if I share his hopes and his dangers, it will be impossible for him to refuse me the hand of his daughter.

Whatever he may desire to undertake, I can surely be of greater assistance than Chanlouineau." From that moment Maurice thought only of doing everything possible to hasten his convalescence.