Explore "A Rogue's Tragedy" by Bernard Capes on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
If all the rest of feminine Le Prieuré was agreed in accepting Louis-Marie's discomfiture with regretful resignation, Martha Paccard was certainly not going to number herself of that complacent sisterhood. She was hot with pity and indignation, and, because vexed, illogical of course.
"What did the man seek?" she asked sharply of Jacques Balmat, referring to the Chevalier de France. "Honour, renown, riches, through this connection with a _débauché_? Our monsieur had provided them all, and with a better savour, if only you had spurred him timely to achieve the ambition of his life. But how was the poor boy to accomplish that ascent, with you and your wisdom for ever at his elbow persuading him from it? You men are all alike -- great promises, and little reasons for not performing them."