Part 19 (1/2)

Inside a room, closely shuttered to keep out the light, Riviere was talking earnestly with Elaine a few days later. The agony of the first days had died down, but she was absolutely helpless. Her eyes were bandaged, and she was dependent on the sister of mercy and Mme Giras for everything.

”Crau is in prison,” said he. ”I've given formal evidence against him, and he is remanded for trial a month hence. When you are well again, they will take your evidence on commission. He will undoubtedly be sentenced to hard labour for some years.”

”What does it matter to me--now?” There was despair in her voice.

”The doctor is very hopeful for you, if you will put yourself under Hegelmann's care.”

”He can do nothing for me, I feel it. Only useless expense. No man can give me back the sight I want for my work.”

”In time,” said Riviere gently, but he could not force conviction into his voice. It went hard with him to lie to the woman he cared for most in the world, even to bring temporary comfort to her.

”My work. Barreze and the Odeon,” she murmured slowly, speaking to herself rather than to him. ”My work was my life. I remember your saying to me in the garden, by the arbour, only a few days ago: 'If Fate were to deny you your freedom!' I s.h.i.+vered even at the words.... Do you believe in Fate?”

Riviere's fist was clenched as he answered: ”I'll fight Fate for both of us.”

She was silent for a few moments. Then she asked: ”Will you write a letter for me?”

He brought pen and ink, and waited for her dictation.

”My dear Barreze,” she dictated slowly, ”you must find someone else to paint your scenes of Provence. I am blinded for life----”

”Don't ask me to write that!”

”I am blinded for life,” she continued with the clear tones of one whose mental vision sees the future unveiled. ”They want me to go to Hegelmann at Wiesbaden. He is a great man, and will do for me all that surgical skill can do. There will be an operation--several, perhaps. It may perhaps give me a faint gleam of light--enough to tell light from darkness and to realize more keenly all that I have lost. I shall never see the theatre again--never paint again. I shall live on the memories of the past and the bitter thoughts of what might have been----”

”I can't write it!” he cried, torn with the pathos of the words she bade him put to paper.

”----of what might have been. My friends of the theatre must pa.s.s out of my life. They can have no use for a crippled, helpless woman, nor do I wish to cloud their happiness with my unwanted presence. Say good-bye to them for me. And you, my dear Barreze, I would thank for the chance you gave me. Your encouragement would have had its reward if I had kept my sight. But it is gone--gone for always--and I am wreckage on the rocks....”

”Elaine, Elaine!” he cried. ”You have me by your side! I ask you to let me devote my life to you!”

The answer came gently: ”I must not accept such a sacrifice. You offer it out of pity for me. Later, you would repent of it. You have your work to do and your life to live in the open suns.h.i.+ne.... Yet don't think me ungrateful. I am deeply grateful. I shall remember what you said out of pity for me, and treasure it amongst my dearest thoughts.”

”It's not pity, Elaine, but----”

He stopped abruptly. The accusing hand of memory had touched him on the shoulder. He had no right to make any such offer--it had come from his heart in pa.s.sionate sincerity, but it was not his to give. Olive was still his wife. Disguise it as he would, he was still Clifford Matheson.

He must leave Elaine to think that pity alone had moulded his words. To explain to her now the shackles of circ.u.mstance that bound him fast would be sheer cruelty, for if she knew the whole truth, she would send him away from her and refuse even the temporary help he could give her.

For Elaine's sake he must keep silent.

A pause of bitter reflection raised a barrier of stone between them.

When he spoke again, it was from the other side of the barrier. ”At least you will let me stay by you until you leave Hegelmann's charge?

That I claim.... And I believe he will be able to do for you much more than you imagine. He has worked wonders before. He will do so again. He is the foremost specialist in the world. All that money can command shall be yours.”