I declared that he was fighting against the troops by my side; I demanded that he should be summoned before the tribunal; I told them that I had in my possession unquestionable proofs of his complicity." "Did you say that the Marquis de Sairmeuse had been wounded ?" inquired Marie-Anne.
Chanlouineau's face betrayed the most intense astonishment.
"What!" he exclaimed, "you do not know----" Then after an instant's reflection: "Fool that I am!" he resumed.

"Who could have told you what had happened?
You remember that when we were travelling over the Sairmeuse road on our way to the Croix d'Arcy, and after your father had left us to ride on in advance, Maurice placed himself at the head of one division, and you walked beside him, while your brother Jean and myself stayed behind to urge on the laggards.

We were performing our duty conscientiously when suddenly we heard the gallop of a horse behind us.
'We must know who is coming,' Jean said to me.
"We paused.

The horse soon reached us; we caught the bridle and held him.

Can you guess who the rider was?
Martial de Sairmeuse.
"To describe your brother's fury on recognizing the marquis would be impossible.
"'At last I find you, wretched noble!' he exclaimed, 'and now we will settle our account! After reducing my father, who has just given you a fortune, to despair and penury, you have tried to degrade my sister.