Part 66 (2/2)
Between them the tomen had concerted it thus, or rather the Countess had so concerted it when Aline had warned her that Andre-Louis' bitter hostility towards the Marquis er consciously to save hi M de Kercadiou and his niece with M thenorance One of these was the project at one tie between Aline and M de La Tour d'Azyr
It was a h in the state of her feelings--had never mentioned, nor had M de Kercadiou ever alluded to it since his co to Meudon, by when he had perceived how unlikely it was ever to be realized
M de La Tour d'Azyr's concern for Aline on thatin Me had been of a circu of his real interest in her, and therefore had appeared no more than natural in one who must account hiastel had never realized nor did she realize now--for Aline did not trouble fully to enlighten her--that the hostility between the two men was other than political, the quarrel other than that which already had taken Andre-Louis to the Bois on every day of the preceding week But, at least, she realized that even if Andre-Louis' rancour should have no other source, yet that inconclusive duel was cause enough for Aline's fears
And so she had proposed this obvious deception; and Aline had consented to be a passive party to it They hadM de La Tour d'Azyr They had trusted entirely to his anxiety to escape froidly within the part imposed upon him They had reckoned without the queer sense of honour that moved such men as M le Marquis, nurtured upon a code of shaure, advanced froht beat on his white, lean face the pseudo-footman started The next ht, and swept his broad-brimmed hat from his brow As he did so Andre-Louis observed that his hand was fine and white and that a jewel flashed froht his breath, and stiffened in every line as he recognized the face revealed to hi, ”I cannot take advantage of your ignorance If these ladies can persuade you to save me, at least it is due to you that you shall knoho”
He stood there by the table very erect and dignified, ready to perish as he had lived--if perish he must--without fear and without deception
Andre-Louis came slowly forward until he reached the table on the other side, and then at last the hed
”You laugh?” said M de La Tour d'Azyr, frowning, offended
”It is so da,” said Andre-Louis
”You've an odd sense of humour, M Moreau”
”Oh, admitted The unexpected always s in the course of our acquaintance To-night you are the one thing I never expected to find you: an honest man”
M de La Tour d'Azyr quivered But he attempted no reply
”Because of that, monsieur, I am disposed to be clement It is probably a foolishness But you have surprised ive you three minutes, monsieur, in which to leave this house, and to take your own measures for your safety What afterwards happens to you shall be no concern of uish
”Pardon, madame It is the ut what I conceive to be my duty If M de La Tour d'Azyr remains he not only ruins himself, but he ioes with me to the headquarters of the section, and the section will have his head on a pike inside the hour He is a notorious counter-revolutionary, a knight of the dagger, one of those whom an exasperated populace is determined to exterminate Now, monsieur, you knohat awaits you Resolve yourself and at once, for these ladies'
sake”
”But you don't know, Andre-Louis!” Muish indescribable She came to him and clutched his arm ”For the love of Heaven, Andre-Louis, be merciful with hi, madame--merciful; more merciful than he deserves And he knows it Fate has ht Al retribution at last upon hie of it, provided that he does at once as I have desired him”
And now from beyond the table the Marquis spoke icily, and as he spoke his right hand stirred under the alad, M Moreau, that you take that tone with me You relieve me of the last scruple You spoke of Fate just now, and I h perhaps not to the end that you discern For years now you have chosen to stand inover ht my life in various ways, first indirectly and at last directly
Your intervention in hest hopes--hout you have been ents of this cliht”
”Wait! Listen!” Mada away from Andre-Louis, as if”Gervais! This is horrible!”
”Horrible, perhaps, but inevitable Hiitive of a lost cause That man holds the keys of escape And, besides, between hi to be paid”
His hand came from beneath the coat at last, and it came armed with a pistol