"She is not to blame," said he, "for her father's faults. She has never known them, and never shall know them. Besides, for all that he did, her father suffered, and died while seeking to make atonement. My father himself, were he alive, would surely forgive that man for all he did; and I surely will not cherish hate against his memory. So Mimi shall be mine. She is mine; we have exchanged vows. I will stay here and die, rather than go and leave her."
"Spoken like a young fool, as you are!" said the priest. "Well, if you will not go without her, you shall go with her; but go you must, and to-night."
"What? can she go too, after all? O, my best Père Michel, what can I say?"
"Say nothing as yet, for there is one condition."
"What is that? I will agree to anything. Never mind conditions."
"You must be married before you go."
"Married!" cried Claude, in amazement.
"Yes."
"Married! How? Am I not here in a dungeon? How can she and I be married?"
"I will tell you how presently. But first, let me tell you why. First of all, we may all get scattered in the woods. It will be very desirable that she should have you for her lawful lord and master, so that you can have a right to stand by her to the last. You can do far more for her than I can, and I do not wish to have all the responsibility. This is one reason.