Part 34 (1/2)

”Coht Never have I seen you look so black Think, Monsieur! TheSoon you will forget”

”No,” I said, ”Madeet”

”Nor I,” she said gravely, ”I wonder, Monsieur, if you understand--but you cannot understand what it has meant to me I have tried to tell you once before, but you are cold, like your father I have seen s, but only you two of all I know have done the,” I said ”You know I have done nothing”

”But it has not been your fault,” she answered ”And was it nothing to protect a stranger froain froets,” I said, ”that I had nothing to lose It was lost already”

”Then surely,” she replied lightly, ”surely you ?”

”You know better than that,” I answered ”Ah, Madeht show you that I did not always blunder I hoped I ht show you--”

The words seemed to choke me

”Ah, Mademoiselle,” I cried, ”if I had only been on the stairs at Blanzy!”

”Blanzy!” she echoed, ”Pray what has Blanzy to do with you and me?”

Even now I do not knohatof the clock was bringing theat htened It seeh she were further away

”Do you not see?” I said ”It is not like you not to understand Nor is it very kind How can I see you go and be glad? How can I be glad you love my father?”

”Mon Dieu!” she exclaimed suddenly startled, ”Your father! I care for your father!”

I bowed in quick contrition

”Mademoiselle,” I said, ”I fear I have been very rude, and, as usual, very gauche I beg you to forgive me”

”But I tell you,” she cried, ”I do not love hiain in silence

”You do not believe ently, ”that I understand--perfectly”

”You!” I started at her sudden vexation, started to find that her eyes were filled with tears

”You understand quite nothing! Never have I seen anyone so cruel, so stupid!”

”Madeive me--the cabin of the _Sea Tern_, where you asked him to sail on, and when you bade him recall what he said on the stairs at Blanzy Your pardon! I have been very blunt”

And now she was regarding me with blank astonishment

”Surely he told you,” she murmured, ”Surely he told you what the Marquis had intended”