Chapter XI

An hour after the Marquise’s escape from Cadenet, the Chevalier de Gange and the Duc de Caderousse arrived there with the most criminal intentions. One can imagine their astonishment when they learnt of Victor’s betrayal. His wife was shown the door the moment Euphrasie’s clothes were discovered in her quarters, and strict orders were relayed to every corner of Caderousse’s estate. ‘Well, this is the greatest calamity two honourable gentlemen could suffer,’ said the Chevalier, ‘for you will acknowledge we could not possibly have been in greater agreement. I relinquished all my rights prior to the defeat of our enemy. From that moment, nothing has come between us.’