Part 59 (2/2)

M d'Or to the side of his principal

”You are hurt!” he had cried stupidly

”It is nothing,” said La Tour d'Azyr ”A scratch” But his lip writhed, and the torn sleeve of his fine cambric shi+rt was full of blood

D'Ormesson, a practical man in such matters, produced a linen kerchief, which he tore quickly into strips to ie

Still Andre-Louis continued to stand there, looking on as if bemused He continued so until Le Chapelier touched hihed, and turned away to resuain at his late opponent, but left the ground at once

As, with Le Chapelier, he alking slowly and in silent dejection towards the entrance of the Bois, where they had left their carriage, they were passed by the caleche conveying La Tour d'Azyr and his second--which had originally driven alht up to the spot of the encounter The Marquis' wounded ar improvised from his companion's sword-belt His sky-blue coat with three collars had been buttoned over this, so that the right sleeve hung e a certain pallor, he looked much his usual self

And now you understand hoas that he was the first to return, and that seeing hi, apparently safe and sound, the two ladies, intent upon preventing the encounter, should have assuastel attempted to call out, but her voice refused its office She atteers fumbled clumsily and ineffectively with the handle And , La Tour d'Azyr's fine eyes soaze And then she saw soain from the forward inclination of his body to join his own to his coht sleeve of M de La Tour d'Azyr's blue coat More, the near side of the coat itself turned back froether by a single button, revealed the slung arm beneath in its blood-sodden cambric sleeve

Even now she feared to jump to the obvious conclusion--feared lest perhaps the Marquis, though hiht have dealt his adversary a deadlier wound

She found her voice at last, and at the sanalled to the driver of the caleche to stop

As it was pulled to a standstill, M d'Orhted, and so es

”Where is M Moreau?” was the question hich she surprised hi at his leisure, no doubt,

”He is not hurt?”

”Unfortunately it is ho” M d'Or, when from behind him M de La Tour d'Azyr's voice cut in crisply:

”This interest on your part in M Moreau, dear Countess”

He broke off, observing a vague challenge in the air hich she confronted hi

There was a vaguely aard pause And then she looked at M d'Ored She offered what appeared to be an explanation of her concern for M Moreau

”Mademoiselle de Kercadiou is with me The poor child has fainted”

There was more, a deal more, she would have said just then, but for M

d'Ormesson's presence

Moved by a deep solicitude for Made up despite his wound

”I am in poor case to render assistance, etic smile on his pale face ”But”

With the aid of d'Orot down from the caleche, which then moved on a little way, so as to leave the road clear--for another carriage that was approaching from the direction of the Bois