Part 64 (2/2)

His coat was rent across the back, his neckcloth and the ruffles at his wrists were torn and bloodstained; with his smeared face and disordered headdress he was terrible to behold Yet he contrived to carry himself with his habitual easy assurance, reastel extended to him in welcome

”You did well to come to me, Gervais,” she said ”Yes, here is sanctuary for the present You will be quite safe, at least for as long as we are safe My servants are entirely trustworthy Sit down and tellalmost into the armchair which she thrust forward, a man exhausted, whether by physical exertion or by nerve-strain, or both He drew a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped some of the blood and dirt from his face

”It is soon told” His tone was bitter with the bitterness of despair

”This,across the frontier at such a tih to trust those who to-day have proved themselves utterly unworthy of trust, that is where I should befolly of a life full of follies and ent need adds point to it” He laughed in his bitterness

Madame moistened her dry lips ”And and now?” she asked hiet away as soon as may be, if it is still possible

Here in France there is no longer any rooround To-day has proved it” And then he looked up at her, standing there beside him so pale and timid, and he smiled He patted the fine hand that rested upon the arm of his chair ”My dear Therese, unless you carry charitableness to the length of giving me to drink, you will see me perish of thirst under your eyes before ever the canaille has a chance to finish ht of it!” she cried in self-reproach, and she turned quickly ”Aline,” she begged, ”tell Jacques to bring”

”Aline!” he echoed, interrupting, and swinging round in his turn Then, as Aline rose into view, detaching froround, and he at last perceived her, he heaved hiain, and stood there stiffly bowing to her across the space of glea floor

”Mademoiselle, I had not suspected your presence,” he said, and he seeht in an illicit act

”I perceived it, monsieur,” she answered, as she advanced to do madame's corieve that we should ain in circumstances so very painful”

Not since the day of his duel with Andre-Louis--the day which had seen the death and burial of his last hope of winning her--had they stood face to face

He checked as if on the point of answering her His glance strayed to Mastel, and, oddly reticent for one who could be very glib, he bowed in silence

”But sit, racious to observe it With your permission, then” And he resumed his seat She continued on her way to the door and passed out upon her errand

When presently she returned they had alastel as seated in that arilt, and M de La Tour d'Azyr who, despite his lassitude, was leaning over the back of it talking earnestly, see by his attitude to plead with her On Aline's entrance he broke off instantly andintruded

Further she observed that the Countess was in tears

Following her ca a tray laden with food and wine Madaht of the Burgundy, then begged, holding forth his gri down to eat

He was led away and valeted by Jacques, and when he returned he had re he had received He looked almost his nornified and courtly in his bearing, but very pale and haggard of face, see suddenly to have increased in years, to have reached in appearance the age that was in fact his own

As he ate and drank--and this with appetite, for as he told the--he entered into the details of the dreadful events of the day, and gave them the particulars of his own escape from the Tuileries when all was seen to be lost and when the Swiss, having burnt their last cartridge, were sub to wholesale massacre at the hands of the indescribably furious mob

”Oh, it was all most ill done,” he ended critically ”We were timid e should have been resolute, and resolute at last when it was too late

That is the history of our side frole We have lacked proper leadershi+p throughout, and now--as I have said already--there is an end to us It but re is to be accomplished”

Madaane

It lifted hiloo to have abandoned that hope,” he assured her ”If this mayor is so well disposed, he certainly can do as his son proht it would have been too late for hi that he had come to Paris, almost impossible for him to win across the streets from the other side It is most likely that he will yet coe that you and Mlle

de Kercadiou are out of this would comfort me above all”