Part 62 (2/2)
”But how could I hope that you meant less than you said, monsieur?
You were so very definite in your declaration What expressions of contrition could have served me without a purpose of a We may yet be thankful for that”
”Thankful?”
”I am a representative I have certain powers I a to Paris Can I serve you where Rougane cannot? The need, ent if the half of what I suspect is true Aline should be placed in safety at once”
M de Kercadiou surrendered unconditionally He came over and took Andre-Louis' hand
”My boy,” he said, and he was visibly moved, ”there is in you a certain nobility that is not to be denied If I seeainst your evil proclivities I desired to keep you out of the evil path of politics that have brought this unfortunate country into so terrible a pass The enemy on the frontier; civil war about to flame out at home That is what you revolutionaries have done”
Andre-Louis did not argue He passed on
”About Aline?” he asked And himself answered his own question: ”She is in Paris, and she ht out of it at once, before the place becomes a shambles, as well itall these ood At least, I cannot think of a better one”
”But Rougane the elder will not hear of it”
”You mean he will not do it on his own responsibility But he has consented to do it on nature to the effect that a safe-conduct for Mlle de Kercadiou to go to Paris and return is issued by him in compliance with orders from me The powers I carry and of which I have satisfied hithat he is to use it only in an extreiven me this safe-conduct”
”You already have it!”
M de Kercadiou took the sheet of paper that Andre-Louis held out His hand shook He approached it to the cluster of candles burning on the console and screwed up his short-sighted eyes to read
”If you send that to Paris by young Rougane in the ,” said Andre-Louis, ”Aline should be here by noon Nothing, of course, could be done to-night without provoking suspicion The hour is too late And now, monsieur my Godfather, you know exactly why I intrude in violation of your commands If there is any other way in which I can serve you, you have but to name it whilst I aane tell you that there were others”
”He astel and her servant”
”Then why?” M de Kercadiou broke off, looking his question
Very solemnly Andre-Louis shook his head
”That is impossible,” he said
M de Kercadiou's mouth fell open in astonishment ”Impossible!” he repeated ”But why?”
”Monsieur, I can do what I a my conscience Besides, for Aline I would offend astel is in very different case Neither Aline nor any of hers have been concerned in counter-revolutionary work, which is the true source of the calamity that now threatens to overtake us I can procure her removal fro nothing that any one could censure, or that astel is the wife of M le Coent between the Court and the eres”
”That is no fault of hers,” cried M de Kercadiou through his consternation
”Agreed But she may be called upon at any moment to establish the fact that she is not a party to these manoeuvres It is known that she was in Paris to-day Should she be sought to-one, enquiries will certainly be made, from which it must result that I have betrayed my trust, and abused my powers to serve personal ends I hope, reat to be run for the sake of a stranger”
”A stranger?” said the Seigneur reproachfully