Part 46 (2/2)
”No,” he confessed Common justice demanded that he should admit that virtue at least in his enemy ”I have not known hiant, too self-confident to have recourse to untruth
But I have known hi is as vile,” she interrupted, speaking from the code by which she had been reared ”It is for liars only--who are first cousin to thieves--that there is no hope It is in falsehood only that there is real loss of honour”
”You are defending that satyr, I think,” he said frostily
”I desire to be just”
”Justice may seem to you a different matter when at last you shall have resolved yourself to become Marquise de La Tour d'Azyr” He spoke bitterly
”I don't think that I shall ever take that resolve”
”But you are still not sure--in spite of everything”
”Can one ever be sure of anything in this world?”
”Yes One can be sure of being foolish”
Either she did not hear or did not heed hie know that it was not as M de La Tour d'Azyr asserts--that he went to the Feydau that night?”
”I don't,” he admitted ”It is of course possible But does it ht matter Tell me; what became of La Binet after all?”
”I don't know”
”You don't know?” She turned to consider hiht I thought you loved her, Andre”
”So did I, for a little while I was mistaken It required a La Tour d'Azyr to disclose the truth to entlemen They help stupid fellows like myself to perceive important truths I was fortunate that revelation in e I can now look back upon the episode with equanimity and thankfulness for my near escape from the consequences of as nocommonly confused with love The experience, as you see, was very instructive”
She looked at him in frank surprise
”Do you know, Andre, I sometimes think that you have no heart”
”Presuence And what of yourself, Aline? What of your own attitude from the outset where M de La Tour d'Azyr is concerned? Does that show heart? If I were to tell you what it really shoe should end by quarrelling again, and God knows I can't afford to quarrel with you now I I shall take another way”
”What do youat thethat animal”
”And if I were?”
”Ah! In that case affection for you would discover toit--unless” He paused
”Unless?” she deht, her eyes imperious
”Unless you could also tell me that you loved him,” said he simply, whereat she was as suddenly andhis head: ”But that of course is iently now