"Six months later," Caderousse continued, "the marriage took place in the church of Accoules."
"The very church where she was supposed to have married Edmond," the priest murmured. "There was only a change of grooms."
"Well, Mercédès was married," Caderousse proceeded, "but although she appeared calm to the world, she nearly fainted as she passed La Réserve, where eighteen months before, her engagement had been celebrated with the man she might have realized she still loved, had she looked deep into her heart. Fernand, happier but not more at ease, for I could see at this time he was constantly afraid of Edmond's return, was very anxious to get his wife away and to leave himself. There were too many unpleasant memories associated with the fishing village, and eight days after the wedding, they left for good."
"Did you ever see Mercédès again?" the priest asked.
"Yes, during the Spanish war, at Perpignan, where Fernand had left her. She was overseeing her son's education."
