If the fancy had seized me for taking part in this movement, I should frankly confess it.

What possible reason could I have for concealing anything from you ?" "The facts!" interrupted the duke, in a frenzy of passion; "the facts!" "Very well," rejoined Martial, in his usual indifferent tone; "the fact is that the model of this circular does exist, that it was written in my best hand on a very large sheet of very poor paper.

I recollect that in trying to find appropriate expressions I erased and rewrote several words.

Did I date this writing?
I think I did, but I could not swear to it." "How do you reconcile this with your denials ?" exclaimed M.de Sairmeuse.
"I can do this easily.

Did I not tell you just now that Chanlouineau had made a tool of me ?" The duke no longer knew what to believe; but what exasperated him more than all else was his son's imperturbable tranquillity.
"Confess, rather, that you have been led into this filth by your mistress," he retorted, pointing to Marie-Anne.
But this insult Martial would not tolerate.
"Mademoiselle Lacheneur is not my mistress," he replied, in a tone so imperious that it was a menace.