Part 6 (2/2)
VI
He rubbed his fingernails on his sleeve and glanced about him with a pleasure he seemed quite unable to conceal Mademoiselle's cold stare seeratitude The contempt on my face he seemed to read in terms of adulation
”Brutus, pick up the pistol My son, you arethan I had hoped Indeed, Madeht, that the best is in our door-yard I have had, perhaps, an exceptional opportunity to see the world I have spent a longer ti re been present before at a scene with so s, my son?”
”None that are new,” I said ”Only my first impressions”
”And they are--?” He pauseda tribute
”Father!” I remonstrated ”There is a lady present!”
”You had alretfully ”You wished to have a ithNo, no, my son! You will be interested, I am sure The door, Brutus!”
But it was not Brutus who stopped me Mademoiselle had laid a hand on rin I had felt began slowly to ebb away Her eyes htful appraisal
”You have been kind,” she said softly, ”Kind, and you know you have no reason--”
She ht have continued, but my father interrupted
”No reason,” he said, ”No reason? It is only Madeard of self that prevents her fro, ”which seems to me as natural as it is obvious”
I turned toward him quickly From the corner of my eye I could see Brutus move nearer, and then Madeh of this,” said Mademoiselle, and she looked from one to the other of us with a condescension that was not wholly displeasing Then, fixing her eyes on my father, she continued:
”Not that I am in the least afraid of you, Captain Shelton We have had to employ too many men like you not to know your type Your son, I think, must take after his mother I fear he thinks I am a damsel in distress I trust, captain, that you know better, though for the otten?”his eyebrows
”Yes,” she said, speaking otten that you are in the pay of et certain papers fro seized by the authorities”
Seelanced at me covertly, and then continued
”I accompanied you because--”
”Because you did not care to share the fate reserved for the papers?” ested politely
For aat my father almost incredulously, while he inclined his head solicitously, as though ready to obey her sain I started to turn away
”The door, Brutus,” saidto see I ,” Mademoiselle said finally ”Yet you--”
”Contrived to rescue both the papers and Made, ”an interesting and original undertaking, but pray do not thank me”