Part 28 (1/2)

With one hand he clasped her aresture, he indicated the sunlit world outside

”Let us drain together,” cried he, ”the loveliness of Perigueux to its dregs!”

Greatly daring, she followed him It was a rapturous escapade--the first adventure of her life She turned her cohter in her eyes Aristide, worker of miracles, strutted by her side choke-full of vanity They wandered through the picturesque streets of the old toith the gaiety of truant children, peeping through iron gateways into old courtyards, venturing their heads into the(on the part of Aristide) withbabes on their doorsteps, crossing the thresholds, hitherto taboo, of churches, and lass and shadows and the heavy smell of incense

Her hand was on his ared courtyard of an ancient palace, a stately ht ironwork in the balconies, tourelles, oriels, exquisite Renaissance ornareat central Gothic doorith great -openings above, through which was visible the stone staircase of honour leading to the upper floors In a corner stood a mediaeval well, the sides curiously carved One side of the courtyard blazed in sunshi+ne, the other lay cool and grey in shadow Not a human form or voice troubled the serenity of the spot On a stone bench against the shady wall Aristide and Mrs Ducksmith sat down to rest

”_Voila!_” said Aristide ”Here one can suck in all the past like an o for beauty, those old fellows”

”I have wasted twenty years of h ”Why didn't I ? Ah, you don't knohat my life has been, Mr Pujol”

”Why not Aristide e are alone? Why not, Henriette?”

He too had the sense of adventure, and his eyes wereand his voice more seductive For some reason or other, undivined by Aristide--over-excitement of nerves, perhaps--she burst into tears

”_Henriette! Henriette, ne pleurez pas_”

His arm crept round her--he knew not how; her head sank on his shoulder, she knew not why--faithlessness to her lord was as far frohts as murder or arson; but for one poor little ood to weep on someone's shoulder and to have someone's sympathetic arm around one's waist

”_Pauvre petite fe for?”

She sobbed; he lifted her chin with his free hand--and what less could mortal apostle do?--he kissed her on her wet cheek

A bellow like that of an angry bull caused them to start asunder They looked up, and there was Mr Ducksmith within a few yards of thee He advanced, shook his fists in their faces

”I've caught you! At last, after twenty years, I've caught you!”

”Monsieur,” cried Aristide, starting up, ”allow me to explain”

He swept Aristide aside like an intercepting -branch, and poured forth a torrent of furious speech upon his wife

”I have hated you for twenty years Day by day I have hated you more

I've watched you, watched you, watched you! But, you sly jade, you've been too clever for ed you I foresaould happen Now the end has come I've hated you for twenty years--ever since you first betrayed me----”

Mrs Ducksmith, who had sat with overwhelht, and looked at hiasped, in bewilderhed--for the first tih, that made the jowls of his cheeks spread horribly to his ears; and again he flooded the cal violence of words The veneer of easy life fell frouage of the hands of his jam factory No, he had never told her He had awaited his chance Now he had found it He called her names

[Illustration: ”I'VE CAUGHT YOU! AT LAST, AFTER TWENTY YEARS, I'VE CAUGHT YOU!”]

Aristide interposed, his Southern being athrob with the insults heaped upon the woain, monsieur,” he shouted, ”and I will take you up in my arms like a sheep and throw you down that well”