Part 68 (1/2)
”All things considered,forced to the conclusion that it is i in this world; that we are all of us the sport of destiny Consider, ht, whilst out there
O o our ways and write 'finis' to this horrible chapter of our lives”
M le La Tour considered hiravely, sadly, in silence for a th, in a s I have to adret, it is the wrong that I have done to you, my dear”
”Not now, Gervais! Not now!” she faltered, interrupting hi It is not likely that we shall ever ain--you who should have been the nearest and dearest to me We are all, he says, the sport of destiny Ah, but not quite Destiny is an intelligent force,with purpose In life we pay for the evil that in life we do
That is the lesson that I have learnt to-night By an act of betrayal I begot unknown to norant as enius of my life, to cross and thwart me, and finally to help to pull me down in ruin It is just--poetically just My full and resigned acceptance of that fact is the only atonement I can offer you”
He stooped and took one of madame's hands that lay limply in her lap
”Good-bye, Therese!” His voice broke He had reached the end of his iron self-control
She rose and clung to him a moment, unashamed before them The ashes of that dead roht, and deep down sohtly now before their final extinction Yet she made no attempt to detain him She understood that their son had pointed out the only wise, the only possible course, and was thankful that M de La Tour d'Azyr accepted it
”God keep you, Gervais,” she murmured ”You will take the safe-conduct, and and you will let me knohen you are safe?”
He held her face between his hands an instant; then very gently kissed her and put her froain, he looked across at Andre-Louis as proffering him a sheet of paper
”It is the safe-conduct Take it, ift to you, and certainly the last gift I should ever have thought of ift of life In a sense it makes us quits The irony, sir, is not o in peace”
M de La Tour d'Azyr took it His eyes looked hungrily into the lean face confronting him, so sternly set He thrust the paper into his bosom, and then abruptly, convulsively, held out his hand His son's eyes asked a question
”Let there be peace between us, in God's name,” said the Marquis thickly
Pity stirred at last in Andre-Louis Sohed ”Good-bye, monsieur,” he said
”You are hard,” his father told hiht so to be In other circumstances I should have been proud to have owned you as my son As it is” He broke off abruptly, and as abruptly added, ”Good-bye”
He loosed his son's hand and stepped back They bowed formally to each other And then M de La Tour d'Azyr bowed to Mlle de Kercadiou in utter silence, a bow that contained so of utter renunciation, of finality
That done he turned and walked stiffly out of the room, and so out of all their lives Months later they were to hear of him in the service of the Emperor of Austria
CHAPTER XVI SUNRISE
Andre-Louis took the air nexton the terrace at Meudon The hour was very early, and the newly risen sun was transered on the lawn Down in the valley, fiveover Paris Yet early as it was that house on the hill was astir already, in a bustle of preparation for the departure that was imht with his mother and Aline, and to-day they were to set out all of the there with hands clasped behind him and head hunched between his shoulders--for life had never been richer in h one of the glass doors froreeted him
”Faith, yes I haven't been to bed No,” he assured her, in answer to her excla at thethinking”