Mme. du Croisier was hesitating between her two creeds; be-



256 THE JEALOUSIES OP A COUNTRY TOWN

tween wifely obedience to her husband as laid down by the
Church, and obedience to the altar and the throne. Her
husband, in her eyes, was acting wrongly, but she dared not
blame him; she would fain save the d'Esgrignons, but she
was loyal to her husband's interests.
"N"ot in the least," Chesnel answered; "your old notary
swears it by the Holy Gospels "

He had nothing left to lose for the d'Esgrignons but his
soul; he risked it now by this horrible perjury, but Mme.
du Croisier must be deceived, there was no other choice but
death. Without losing a moment, he dictated a form of
receipt by which Mme. du Croisier acknowledged payment of
a hundred thousand crowns five days before the fatal letter
of exchange appeared ; for he recollected that du Croisier was
away from home, superintending improvements on his wife's
property at the time.
"Now swear to me that you will declare before the ex-
amining magistrate that you received the money on that
date," he said, when Mme. du Croisier had taken the notes and
he held the receipt in his hand.
"It will be a lie, will it not?"

"Venial sin," said Chesnel.
"I could not do it without consulting my director, M.
