visits。 He learnt of that reconciliation now； but he learnt at
the same time that the breach was now renewed； and rendered wider
and more impassable than ever。 Therefore he did not hesitate to
avow his own position。
〃There is a law；〃 he answered。 〃The law that this rash young man
himself evokes。 The law of the sword。〃 He spoke very gravely；
almost sadly。 For he realized that after all the ground was tender。
〃You are not to suppose that he is to continue indefinitely his
career of evil and of murder。 Sooner or later he will meet a
sword that will avenge the others。 You have observed that my
cousin Chabrillane is among the number of this assassin's victims；
that he was killed on Tuesday last。〃
〃If I have not expressed my condolence； Azyr； it is because my
indignation stifles at the moment every other feeling。 The
scoundrel！ You say that sooner or later he will meet a sword that
will avenge the others。 I pray that it may be soon。〃
The Marquis answered him quietly； without anything but sorrow in
his voice。 〃I think your prayer is likely to be heard。 This
wretched young man has an engagement for to…morrow； when his
account may be definitely settled。〃
He spoke with such calm conviction that his words had all the sound
of a sentence of death。 They suddenly stemmed the flow of M。 de
Kercadiou's anger。 The colour receded from his inflamed face；
dread looked out of his pale eyes； to inform M。 de La Tour d'Azyr；
more clearly than any words； that M。 de Kercadiou's hot speech had
been the expression of unreflecting anger； that his prayer that
retribution might soon overtake his godson had been unconsciously
insincere。 Confronted now by the fact that this retribution was
about to be visited upon that scoundrel； the fundamental gentleness
and kindliness of his nature asserted itself； his anger was suddenly
whelmed in apprehension； his affection for the lad beat up to the
surface； making Andre…Louis' sin； however hideous； a thing of no
account by comparison with the threatened punishment。
M。 de Kercadiou moistened his lips。
〃With whom is this engagement？〃 he asked in a voice that by an
effort he contrived to render steady。
M。 de La Tour d'Azyr bowed his handsome head； his eyes upon the
gleaming parquetry of the floor。 〃With myself；〃 he answered quietly；
conscious already with a tightening of the heart that his answer
must sow dismay。 He caught the sound of a faint outcry from Aline；
he saw the sudden recoil of M。 de Kercadiou。 And then he plunged
headlong into the explanation that he deemed necessary。
〃In view of his relations with you； M。 de Kercadiou； and because
of my deep regard for you； I did my best to avoid this； even though
as you will understand the death of my dear friend and cousin
Chabrillane seemed to summon me to action； even though I knew that
my circumspection was becoming matter for criticism among my friends。
But yesterday this unbridled young man made further restraint
impossible to me。 He provoked me deliberately and publicly。 He
put upon me the very grossest affront； and。。。 to…morrow morning in
the Bois。。。 we meet。〃
He faltered a little at the end； fully conscious of the hostile
atmosphere in which he suddenly found himself。 Hostility from M。
de Kercadiou； the latter's earlier change of manner had already
led him to expect； the hostility of mademoiselle came more in the
nature of a surprise。
He began to understand what difficulties the course to which he
was committed must raise up for him。 A fresh obstacle was to be
flung across the path which he had just cleared； as he imagined。
Yet his pride and his sense of the justice due to be done admitted
of no weakening。
In bitterness he realized now； as he looked from uncle to niece
… his glance； usually so direct and bold； now oddly furtive … that
though to…morrow he might kill Andre…Louis； yet even by his death
Andre…Louis would take vengeance upon him。 He had exaggerated
nothing in reaching the conclusion that this Andre…Louis Moreau
was the evil genius of his life。 He saw now that do what he would；
kill him even though he might； he could never conquer him。 The last
word would always be with Andre…Louis Moreau。 In bitterness； in
rage； and in humiliation … a thing almost unknown to him … did he
realize it； and the realization steeled his purpose for all that
he perceived its futility。
Outwardly he showed himself calm and self…contained； properly
suggesting a man regretfully accepting the inevitable。 It would
have been as impossible to find fault with his bearing as to
attempt to turn him from the matter to which he was committed。
And so M。 de Kercadiou perceived。
〃My God！〃 was all that he said； scarcely above his breath； yet
almost in a groan。
M。 de La Tour d'Azyr did； as always； the thing that sensibility
demanded of him。 He took his leave。 He understood that to linger
where his news had produced such an effect would be impossible；
indecent。 So he departed； in a bitterness comparable only with
his erstwhile optimism； the sweet fruit of hope turned to a thing
of gall even as it touched his lips。 Oh； yes； the last word；
indeed； was with Andre…Louis Moreau … always！
Uncle and niece looked at each other as he passed out； and there
was horror in the eyes of both。 Aline's pallor was deathly almost；
and standing there now she wrung her hands as if in pain。
〃Why did you not ask him … beg him。。。 〃 She broke off。
〃To what end？ He was in the right； and。。。 and there are things
one cannot ask； things it would be a useless humiliation to ask。〃
He sat down； groaning。 〃Oh； the poor boy … the poor； misguided boy。〃
In the mind of neither； you see； was there any doubt of what must
be the issue。 The calm confidence in which La Tour d'Azyr had
spoken compelled itself to be shared。 He was no vainglorious
boaster； and they knew of what a force as a swordsman he was
generally accounted。
〃What does humiliation matter？ A life is at issue … Andre's life。〃
〃I know。 My God； don't I know？ And I would humiliate myself if
by humiliating myself I could hope to prevail。 But Azyr is a hard；
relentless man； and。。。 〃
Abruptly she left him。
She overtook the Marquis as he was in the act of stepping his
carriage。 He turned as she called； and bowed。
〃Mademoiselle？〃
At once he guessed her errand； tasted in anticipation the
unparalleled bitterness of being compelled to refuse her。 Yet at
her invitation he stepped back into the cool of the hall。
In the middle of the floor of chequered marbles； black and white；
stood a carved table of black oak。 By this he halted； leaning
lightly against it whilst she sat enthroned in the great crimson
chair beside it。
〃Monsieur； I cannot allow you so to depart；〃 she said。 〃You cannot
realize； monsieur； what a blow would be dealt my uncle if。。。 if
evil； irrevocable evil were to overtake his godson to…morrow。 The
expressions that he used at first。。。 〃
〃Mademoiselle； I perceived their true value。 Spare yourself。
Believe me I am profoundly desolated by circumstances which I had
not expected to find。 You must believe me when I say that。 It
is all that I can say。〃
〃Must it really be all？ Andre is very dear to his godfather。〃
The pleading tone cut him like a knife； and then suddenly it aroused
another emotion … an emotion which he realized to be utterly
unworthy； an emotion which； in his overwhelming pride of race；
seemed almost sullying； yet not to be repressed。 He hesitated to
give it utterance； hesitated even remotely to suggest so horrible
a thing as that in a man of such lowly origin he might conceivably
discover a rival。 Yet that sudden pang of jealousy was stronger
than his monstrous pride。
〃And to you； mademoiselle？ What is this Andre…Louis Moreau to you？
You will pardon the question。 But I desire clearly to understand。〃
Watching her he beheld the scarlet stain that overspread her face。
He read in it at first confusion； until the gleam of her blue eyes
announced its source to lie in anger。 That comforted him； since
he had affronted her； he was reassured。 It did not occur to him
that the anger might have another source。
〃Andre and I have been playmates from infancy。 He is very dear to
me； too； almost I regard him as a brother。 Were I in need of help；
and were my uncle not available； Andre would be the first man to
whom I should turn。 Are you sufficiently answered； monsieur？ Or
is there more of me you would desire revealed？〃
He bit his lip。 He was unnerved； he thought； this morning；
otherwise the silly suspicion with which he had offended could
never have occurred to him。
He bowed very low。 〃Mademoiselle； forgive that I should have
troubled you with such a question。 You have answered more fully
than I could have hoped or wished。〃
He said no more than that。 He waited for her to resume。 At a loss；
she sat in silence awhile； a pucker on her white brow； her fingers
nervously drumming on the table。 At last she flung herself headlong
against the impassive； polished front that he presented。
〃I have come； monsieur； to beg you to put off this meeting。〃
She saw the faint raising of his dark eyebrows； the faintly regretful
smile that scarcely did more than tinge his fine lips； and she
hurried on。 〃What honour can await you in such an engagement；
monsieur？〃
It was a shrewd thrust at the pride of race that she accounted his
paramount sentiment； that had as often lured him into error as it
had urged him into good。
〃I do not seek honour in it； mademoiselle； but … I must say it
… justice。 The engagement； as I have explained； is not of my
seeking。 It has been thrust upon me； and in honour I cannot draw
back。〃
〃Why； what dishonour would there be in sparing him？ Surely；
monsieur； none would call your courage in question？ None could
misapprehend your motives。〃
〃You are mistaken； mademoiselle。 My motives would most certainly
be misapprehended。 You forget that this young man has acquired in
the past week a certain reputation that might well make a man
hesitate to meet him。〃
She brushed that aside almost contemptuously； conceiving it the
merest quibble。
〃Some men； yes。 But not you； M。 le Marquis。〃