To Felicite his cowardice appeared a proof of his love for her, and her devotion to him grew stronger.

When she met him, he would torture her with his fears and his entreaties.

At last, he announced that he was going to the prefect himself for information, and would let her know everything on the following Sunday, between eleven o'clock and midnight.
When the time drew near, she ran to meet her lover.
But instead of Theodore, one of his friends was at the meeting-place.
He informed her that she would never see her sweetheart again; for, in order to escape the conscription, he had married a rich old woman, Madame Lehoussais, of Toucques.
The poor girl's sorrow was frightful.

She threw herself on the ground, she cried and called on the Lord, and wandered around desolately until sunrise.

Then she went back to the farm, declared her intention of leaving, and at the end of the month, after she had received her wages, she packed all her belongings in a handkerchief and started for Pont-l'Eveque.
In front of the inn, she met a woman wearing widow's weeds, and upon questioning her, learned that she was looking for a cook.