Summary
As Mrs. Bread and Newman talk, the servant begs Newman not to blame Claire for rejecting him. She states that the family worked on her feelings, causing her to be plagued with guilt, though she has done nothing. Mrs. Bread says that Claire had been afraid for a long time, afraid of her family and what they had done in the past. Newman tells her that Valentin, on his death bed, had told him to ask Mrs. Bread about the secret. Mrs. Bread asks how such information will help him, and Newman confesses that he wants to use it to hurt the Bellegardes as much, or more, than they have hurt him. He is angry for their placing him in a high position, connecting him with their friends, and then pushing him over the edge.

Mrs. Bread does not approve of Newman’s plans, stating that it would be a great dishonor to Claire. Newman points out that, for all intents and purposes, Claire is now dead to the world and any effect of dishonor. When Mrs. Bread says that this secret will break up the family, Newman says that such a family needs to be broken up, and he assures Mrs. Bread that he will provide for her for the rest of her life, taking him into his home as a housekeeper.

Mrs. Bread tells Newman her background and why she has such anger toward Madame de Bellegarde. Many years ago, when she was young, the former marquis was as attentive to pretty young women regardless of Valentin's class. One time, when Mrs. Bread put a red ribbon in her cap, Madame de Bellegarde accused her of trying to attract the marquis’ attention. Mrs. Bread responds, saying that, if the marquis is noticing her, it is definitely not because of her ribbon. Thereafter, Mrs. Bread despises the marquise for her insinuations against her honor, and Madame de Bellegarde likewise keeps her distance from Mrs. Bread.

When the time came for Claire to marry, her mother and brother wanted to marry her to the count de Cintré, because he was the only one who was rich enough and also willing to accept Claire without a large dowry. The marquis, however, refused to give his permission. After a quarrel with his wife, the marquis took to bed, as he often did after a quarrel. His illness was so severe that two doctors predicted his demise, but another doctor from Poitiers thought he would survive and gave him some medicine. Beginning to rally his strength, Madame de Bellegarde deprived him of the medicine, insuring that he would die. Before he passed away, however, he called in Mrs. Bread and told her that his wife had murdered him. He wrote a letter to this effect and signed it with his name: Henri-Urbain de Bellegarde, and then he died. Mrs. Beard kept the letter, which she now agrees to give to Newman.

Analysis
With the revelations of Mrs. Bread in this chapter, the full immensity of the evil of Madame de Bellegarde and her son is made known. Beyond just conceit and unpleasantness, the pair are actually criminals, guilty of the death of the former Marquis de Bellegarde for standing in the way of the marriage of Claire to the Count de Cintré. The depths of the immorality of the mother and son are a reverse reflection of the goodness of both Newman and Claire, as well in some degree Valentin. The juxtaposition of these characters provides the moral basis that underscores conflict between them, placing the future of Claire herself as the focus...