Part 63 (2/2)
”Andre, h to think you had no heart You deceived me with your infernal pretence, and now I see I see” He was not sure what it was that he saw, or else he hesitated to express it
”It is nothing, monsieur I am tired out, and and I have a cold in the head” And then, finding the part beyond his power, he abruptly threw it up, utterly abandoned all pretence ”Why why has there been all this mystery?” he asked ”Was it intended that I should never know?”
”It was, Andre It it had to be, for prudence' sake”
”But why? Complete your confidence, sir Surely you cannot leave it there Having told me so much, you must tell me all”
”The reason, my boy, is that you were born soastel, soastel had been aith the army, and some four months before his return to his wife It is a ravest family reasons must never suspect That is why the utmost secrecy has been preserved That is why none was ever allowed to know Your mother came betimes into Brittany, and under an assue of Moreau It hile she was there that you were born”
Andre-Louis turned it over in his id and collected
”When you say that none was ever allowed to know, you are telling me, of course, that you, monsieur”
”Oh, mon Dieu, no!” The denial ca to his feet propelled from Andre's side by the violence of his eestion filled him with horror ”I was the only other one who knew But it is not as you think, Andre You cannot iine that I should lie to you, that I should deny you if you were my son?”
”If you say that I am not, monsieur, that is sufficient”
”You are not I was Therese's cousin and also, as she well knew, her truest friend She knew that she could trust me; and it was to me she came for help in her extremity Once, years before, I would have married her But, of course, I am not the sort of man a woman could love She trusted, however, to my love for her, and I have kept her trust”
”Then, as my father?”
”I don't know She never told me It was her secret, and I did not pry
It is not in ot up, and stood silently facing M de Kercadiou
”You believe me, Andre”
”Naturally, monsieur; and I am sorry, I aripped his Godson's hand convulsively, and held it a moment with no word spoken Then as they fell away froain:
”And noill you do, Andre?” he asked ”Now that you know?”
Andre-Louis stood awhile, considering, then broke into laughter The situation had its humours He explained thee make? Is filial piety to be called into existence by the mere announceh lack of circumspection on behalf of a mother so very circu herself? The discovery rests upon the merest chance, upon a fall of the dice of Fate
Is that to weigh with me?”
”The decision is with you, Andre”
”Nay, it is beyond me Decide it who can, I cannot”
”You mean that you refuse even now?”