Part 25 (2/2)
My father reh his arm
”Indeed?” he said ”He came in heels first, I trust?”
”No,” I said, ”he is alive and well”
”The devil!” saidold, my son I know my horse spoiled my aim, and yet he fell, and I rode over him I had hoped to be finished with your Uncle Jason You say he entered the house?”
”And told me to stop,” I said
”And you did not?”
”No,” I replied ”I succeeded in getting out of aalso”
And then, although I could not see hie, and I knew that I was facing a different man
His hand fell on
”God!” he cried, in a voice that was suddenly harsh and forbidding ”Do you mean to tell me you left Mademoiselle, and never struck a blow? You left her there?”
”Not entirely,” I replied
My father becaentle
”Will you be done with this?” he said, ”The lady, where is she now?”
And then, half to himself he added
”Hoas I to know they would break in the house after I had gone?”
”Mademoiselle,” I replied, ”is not fifteen feet away”
His hand went up to the clasp of his cloak, and again his voice became pleasantly conversational
”Ah, that is better,” said rowing old, led badly Do you hope to keep the paper?”
In the distance I heard a voice again, raised in a shout Surely he understood
”They are co,” I said ”Yes, I intend to keep the paper”
”Indeed?” said my father ”Perhaps you will explain how, o quite ahead of o back to France, father, and you are almost on your way there”
”No, not to France,” he answered, and I knew he sawto take you If you so ain, I shall call theether Your horse is tired He cannot go much further”
He was silent for a ht shoot ood Listen! I can hear them on the road”