Will you do me
a great service? Make the inquiry you once spoke to me about, try to find
out if he is alive or dead. I feel that when I know the facts peace may
perhaps return to me."
Mathieu was almost on the point of answering her that, even if this child
were found again, it could hardly cure her of her grief at having no
child of her own. He had divined her agony at seeing Blaise take
Maurice's place at the works now that Beauchene had resumed his dissolute
life, and daily intrusted the young man with more and more authority.
Blaise's home was prospering too; Charlotte had now given birth to a
second child, a boy, and thus fruitfulness was invading the place and
usurpation becoming more and more likely, since Constance could never
more have an heir to bar the road of conquest. Without penetrating her
singular feelings, Mathieu fancied that she perhaps wished to sound him
to ascertain if he were not behind Blaise, urging on the work of
spoliation. She possibly imagined that her request would make him
anxious, and that he would refuse to make the necessary researches. At
this idea he decided to do as she desired, if only to show her that he
was above all the base calculations of ambition.
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