Part 57 (1/2)
CHAPTER X THE RETURNING CARRIAGE
M de Kercadiou wrote a letter
”Godson,” he began, without any softening adjective, ”I have learnt with pain and indignation that you have dishonoured yourself again by breaking the pledge you gave nation do I learn that your name has become in a few short days a byword, that you have discarded the weapon of false, insidious arguainst --for the sword of the assassin It has conation to-entleations imposed upon him by his birth, which do not perees For a elect it when made, entails no sacrifice Your peers will probably be of the opinion that you display a co you, indeed, did I think that I still exercise over you any such authority as the favours you have received from me should entitle o no farther, and to refrain fro Having no such authority, as your past conduct nowno reason to hope that a proper sentiive heed to this my most earnest request, I am compelled to add that should you survive to-ain permit myself to be conscious of your existence If any spark survives of the affection that once you expressed for me, or if you set any value upon the affection, which, in spite of all that you have done to forfeit it, is the chief pro”
It was not a tactful letter M de Kercadiou was not a tactful man Read it as he would, Andre-Louis--when it was delivered to hiroom dispatched with it into Paris--could read into it only concern for M La Tour d'Azyr, M de Kercadiou's good friend, as he called hiroo his answer
Brief though it was, it cost him very considerable effort and several unsuccessful attempts In the end this is what he wrote:
Monsieur ularly hard for round of affection It is a thing of which all ive you proofs, and I a I could hope to express that I cannot give you the proof you ask to-day There is too much between M de La Tour d'Azyr and me Also you do me and my class--whatever it ations of honour are not binding upon us So binding do I count them, that, if I would, I could not no back
If hereafter you should persist in the harsh intention you express, I must suffer it That I shall suffer be assured
Your affectionate and grateful Godson
Andre-Louis
He dispatched that letter by M de Kercadiou's groom, and conceived this to be the end of the matter It cut him keenly; but he bore the wound with that outward stoicisht, as with Le Chapelier--who had co from table to set out for the Bois, his housekeeper startled hi Madeh his cabriolet was already at the door, he had a few minutes to spare He excused himself from Le Chapelier, and went briskly out to the anterooer, alnorance of why you have come,” he said quickly, to make short work ”But time presses, and I warn you that only the ”
It surprised her It amounted to a rebuff at the very outset, before she had uttered a word; and that was the last thing she had expected from Andre-Louis Moreover, there was about him an air of aloofness that was unusual where she was concerned, and his voice had been singularly cold and foruess the conclusion to which he had leapt He ard to her--as was but natural, after all--the saard to yesterday's letter fro of action here was solely concern for M de La Tour d'Azyr That it ht be concern for himself never entered his mind So absolute was his own conviction of whatthat he could not conceive of any one entertaining a fear on his behalf
What he assumed to be anxiety on the score of the predestined victim had irritated hier; he argued from it that she had hardly been frank with hi her to consider with favour the suit of M de La Tour d'Azyr And than this there was no spur that could have driven more relentlessly in his purpose, since to save her was in his eyes ale the past
She conned hily, and the complete calm of him at such a time amazed her She could not repress the mention of it
”How calm you are, Andre!”
”I am not easily disturbed It is a vanity ofmust not take place!” She came close up to him, to set her hands upon his shoulders, and stood so, her face within a foot of his own
”You know, of course, of soood reason why it should not?” said he
”You may be killed,” she answered him, and her eyes dilated as she spoke
It was so far fro that he had expected that for a ht he had understood He laughed as he removed her hands from his shoulders, and stepped back This was a shallow device, childish and unworthy in her
”Can you really think to prevail by attehten me?” he asked, and almost sneered
”Oh, you are surely erous sword in France”
”Have you never noticed that erous swordsround