Part 5 (2/2)

She tried to suppress a smile, but only half succeeded

”I fear the Captain has been drinking again,” she said quietly ”Not that I am sorry The wine improves you, I think”

”Maderave,” exclai low, ”but pray be seated A chair for the lady, my son Early this afternoon they toldpossible done for your colance

”I was unable to see you on the shi+p, captain, and I wanted to have a ith you at the first opportunity Otherwise I would not have favored you with a tableau of the house of Blanzy I wanted to speak with you--alone”

She had declined the chair I offered her, and was standing facing him, her eyes al again, ”is delightfully unexpected! But I forget myself This is my son, Henry Shelton May I present him to Mlle

de Blanzy?”

”I suppose youa hand toward ood qualities monsieur, and none of your bad ones But I wanted to speak to you alone”

”My son is discretion itself,” said my father, with another bow ”Pray let him stay I feel sure our discussion will not only interest but instruct hiry foot on the floor

”You heard what I said, sir Send him out,” she deently ”Stay where you are,”

he repeatedfurther to say to you before you leave this house”

”Your pardon,” he explained, turning again to Made out over a question of ethics which I think directly concerns the ive me, Mademoiselle, but I had ain, this time with an appeal in her eyes which I read and understood It seemed to me a trace more of color had mounted to her cheeks She seemed about to speak but paused irresolutely

I made a bohich I did my best to render the equal of lad I had entered his house

”Mademoiselle,” I said, ”it is a pleasure to render you even so small a service”

And I turned to lance squarely

”I cannot see any profit to either of us for er,” I observed, ”either here or in this house,” and I turned to the door

”Brutus!” called my father sharply ”Stand by the door Now sir, if you leave this room before I am ready, my servant shall retain you by force

Mademoiselle will pardon this domestic scene,” he added, ”the boy has an uncertain te at ering the lace at his throat I saw Madehtened, but partly curious, as though she had witnessed siot the better of me Mr Lawton's pistol still lay on the table Before my father could divine my intention, I had seized it, and held it pointed at Brutus' head

”Sir,” I said, breathing a trifle faster than usual, ”I a threatened by servants Order hily, and his hand, that had been fingering the lace, groped toward an e but a bottle, father,” I said, watching hi but a bottle It smacks of such low associations”