scaramouche-第44章

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forgiven　you；　as　one　who　had　paid　for　his　evil；　and　his　folly。
Living；　I　never　can　forgive　you。　　You　have　gone　too　far。　　God　alone
knows　where　it　will　end。

〃Benoit；　the　door。　　M。　Andre…Louis　Moreau　to　the　door！〃　　The　tone
argued　an　irrevocable　determination。　　Pale　and　self…contained；　but
with　a　queer　pain　at　his　heart；　Andre…Louis　heard　that　dismissal；
saw　Benoit's　white；　scared　face　and　shaking　hands　half…raised　as
if　he　were　about　to　expostulate　with　his　master。　　And　then　another
voice；　a　crisp；　boyish　voice；　cut　in。

〃Uncle！〃　it　cried；　a　world　of　indignation　and　surprise　in　its　pitch；
and　then：　　〃Andre！〃　　And　this　time　a　note　almost　of　gladness；
certainly　of　welcome；　was　blended　with　the　surprise　that　still
remained。

Both　turned；　half　the　room　between　them　at　the　moment；　and　beheld
Aline　in　one　of　the　long；　open　windows；　arrested　there　in　the　act
of　entering　from　the　garden；　Aline　in　a　milk…maid　bonnet　of　the
latest　mode；　though　without　any　of　the　tricolour　embellishments
that　were　so　commonly　to　be　seen　upon　them。

The　thin　lips　of　Andre's　long　mouth　twisted　into　a　queer　smile。
Into　his　mind　had　flashed　the　memory　of　their　last　parting。　　He
saw　himself　again；　standing　burning　with　indignation　upon　the
pavement　of　Nantes；　looking　after　her　carriage　as　it　receded　down
the　Avenue　de　Gigan。

She　was　coming　towards　him　now　with　outstretched　hands；　a　heightened
colour　in　her　cheeks；　a　smile　of　welcome　on　her　lips。　　He　bowed　low
and　kissed　her　hand　in　silence。

Then　with　a　glance　and　a　gesture　she　dismissed　Benoit；　and　in　her
imperious　fashion　constituted　herself　Andre's　advocate　against　that
harsh　dismissal　which　she　had　overheard。

〃Uncle；〃　she　said；　leaving　Andre　and　crossing　to　M。　de　Kercadiou；
〃you　make　me　ashamed　of　you！　　　To　allow　a　feeling　of　peevishness　to
overwhelm　all　your　affection　for　Andre！〃

〃I　have　no　affection　for　him。　I　had　once。　　He　chose　to　extinguish
it。　　He　can　go　to　the　devil；　and　please　observe　that　I　don't　permit
you　to　interfere。〃

〃But　if　he　confesses　that　he　has　done　wrong。。。　〃

〃He　confesses　nothing　of　the　kind。　　He　comes　here　to　argue　with　me
about　these　infernal　Rights　of　Man。　　He　proclaims　himself
unrepentant。　　He　announces　himself　with　pride　to　have　been；　as　all
Brittany　says；　the　scoundrel　who　hid　himself　under　the　sobriquet
of　Omnes　Omnibus。　　Is　that　to　be　condoned？〃

She　turned　to　look　at　Andre　across　the　wide　space　that　now　separated
them。

〃But　is　this　really　so？　　Don't　you　repent；　Andre　…　now　that　you　see
all　the　harm　that　has　come？〃

It　was　a　clear　invitation　to　him；　a　pleading　to　him　to　say　that　he
repented；　to　make　his　peace　with　his　godfather。　　For　a　moment　it
almost　moved　him。　Then；　considering　the　subterfuge　unworthy；　he
answered　truthfully；　though　the　pain　he　was　suffering　rang　in　his
voice。

〃To　confess　repentance；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃would　be　to　confess　to　a
monstrous　crime。　　Don't　you　see　that？　　Oh；　monsieur；　have　patience
with　me；　let　me　explain　myself　a　little。　　You　say　that　I　am　in　part
responsible　for　something　of　all　this　that　has　happened。　　My
exhortations　of　the　people　at　Rennes　and　twice　afterwards　at　Nantes
are　said　to　have　had　their　share　in　what　followed　there。　　It　may　be
so。　　It　would　be　beyond　my　power　positively　to　deny　it。　　Revolution
followed　and　bloodshed。　　More　may　yet　come。　　To　repent　implies　a
recognition　that　I　have　done　wrong。　　How　shall　I　say　that　I　have
done　wrong；　and　thus　take　a　share　of　the　responsibility　for　all
that　blood　upon　my　soul？　　I　will　be　quite　frank　with　you　to　show
you　how　far；　indeed；　I　am　from　repentance。　　What　I　did；　I　actually
did　against　all　my　convictions　at　the　time。　　Because　there　was　no
justice　in　France　to　move　against　the　murderer　of　Philippe　de
Vilmorin；　I　moved　in　the　only　way　that　I　imagined　could　make　the
evil　done　recoil　upon　the　hand　that　did　it；　and　those　other　hands
that　had　the　power　but　not　the　spirit　to　punish。　　Since　then　I
have　come　to　see　that　I　was　wrong；　and　that　Philippe　de　Vilmorin
and　those　who　thought　with　him　were　in　the　right。

〃You　must　realize；　monsieur；　that　it　is　with　sincerest　thankfulness
that　I　find　I　have　done　nothing　calling　for　repentance；　that；　on
the　contrary；　when　France　is　given　the　inestimable　boon　of　a
constitution；　as　will　shortly　happen；　I　may　take　pride　in　having
played　my　part　in　bringing　about　the　conditions　that　have　made　this
possible。〃

There　was　a　pause。　　M。　de　Kercadiou's　face　turned　from　pink　to
purple。

〃You　have　quite　finished？〃　he　said　harshly。

〃If　you　have　understood　me；　monsieur。〃

〃Oh；　I　have　understood　you；　and。。。　and　I　beg　that　you　will　go。〃

Andre…Louis　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　hung　his　head。　　He　had　come
there　so　joyously；　in　such　yearning；　merely　to　receive　a　final
dismissal。　　He　looked　at　Aline。　　Her　face　was　pale　and　troubled；
but　her　wit　failed　to　show　her　how　she　could　come　to　his　assistance。
His　excessive　honesty　had　burnt　all　his　boats。

〃Very　well；　monsieur。　　Yet　this　I　would　ask　you　to　remember　after　I
am　gone。　　I　have　not　come　to　you　as　one　seeking　assistance；　as　one
driven　to　you　by　need。　　I　am　no　returning　prodigal；　as　I　have　said。
I　am　one　who；　needing　nothing；　asking　nothing；　master　of　his　own
destinies；　has　come　to　you　driven　by　affection　only；　urged　by　the
love　and　gratitude　he　bears　you　and　will　continue　to　bear　you。〃

〃Ah；　yes！〃　cried　Aline；　turning　now　to　her　uncle。　　Here　at　least
was　an　argument　in　Andre's　favour；　thought　she。　　〃That　is　true。
Surely　that。。。〃

Inarticulately　he　hissed　her　into　silence；　exasperated。

〃Hereafter　perhaps　that　will　help　you　to　think　of　me　more　kindly；
monsieur。

〃I　see　no　occasion；　sir；　to　think　of　you　at　all。　　Again；　I　beg
that　you　will　go。〃

Andre…Louis　looked　at　Aline　an　instant；　as　if　still　hesitating。

She　answered　him　by　a　glance　at　her　furious　uncle；　a　faint　shrug；
and　a　lift　of　the　eyebrows；　dejection　the　while　in　her　countenance。

It　was　as　if　she　said：　〃You　see　his　mood。　　There　is　nothing　to　be
done。〃

He　bowed　with　that　singular　grace　the　fencing…room　had　given　him
and　went　out　by　the　door。

〃Oh；　it　is　cruel！〃　cried　Aline；　in　a　stifled　voice；　her　hands
clenched；　and　she　sprang　to　the　window。

〃Aline！〃　her　uncle's　voice　arrested　her。　　〃Where　are　you　going？〃

〃But　we　do　not　know　where　he　is　to　be　found。〃

〃Who　wants　to　find　the　scoundrel？〃

〃We　may　never　see　him　again。〃

〃That　is　most　fervently　to　be　desired。〃

Aline　said　〃Ouf！〃　and　went　out　by　the　window。

He　called　after　her；　imperiously　commanding　her　return。　　But　Aline
　…　dutiful　child　…　closed　her　ears　lest　she　must　disobey　him；　and
sped　light…footed　across　the　lawn　to　the　avenue　there　to　intercept
the　departing　Andre…Louis。

As　he　came　forth　wrapped　in　gloom；　she　stepped　from　the　bordering
trees　into　his　path。

〃Aline！〃　he　cried；　joyously　almost。

〃I　did　not　want　you　to　go　like　this。　　I　couldn't　let　you；　she
explained　herself。　　〃I　know　him　better　than　you　do；　and　I　know　that
his　great　soft　heart　will　presently　melt。　　He　will　be　filled　with
regret。　　He　will　want　to　send　for　you；　and　he　will　not　know　where
to　send。〃

〃You　think　that？〃

〃Oh；　I　know　it！　　You　arrive　in　a　bad　moment。　　He　is　peevish　and
cross…grained；　poor　man；　since　he　came　here。　　These　soft
surroundings　are　all　so　strange　to　him。　　He　wearies　himself　away
from　his　beloved　Gavrillac；　his　hunting　and　tillage；　and　the　truth
is　that　in　his　mind　he　very　largely　blames　you　for　what　has　happened
　…　for　the　necessity；　or　at　least；　the　wisdom；　of　this　change。
Brittany；　you　must　know；　was　becoming　too　unsafe。　　The　chateau　of
La　Tour　d'Azyr；　amongst　others；　was　burnt　to　the　ground　some　months
ago。　　At　any　moment；　given　a　fresh　excitement；　it　may　be　the　turn
of　Gavrillac。　　And　for　this　and　his　present　discomfort　he　blames
you　and　your　friends。　　But　he　will　come　round　presently。　　He　will
be　sorry　that　he　sent　you　away　like　this　…　for　I　know　that　he　loves
you；　Andre；　in　spite　of　all。　　I　shall　reason　with　him　when　the　time
comes。　　And　then　we　shall　want　to　know　where　to　find　you。〃

〃At　number　13；　Rue　du　Hasard。　　The　number　is　unlucky；　the　name　of
the　street　appropriate。　　Therefore　both　are　easy　to　remember。〃

She　nodded。　　〃I　will　walk　with　you　to　the　gates。〃　　And　side　by
side　now　they　proceeded　at　a　leisurely　pace　down　the　long　avenue
in　the　June　sunshine　dappled　by　the　shadows　of　the　bordering　trees。
〃You　are　looking　well；　Andre；　and　do　you　know　that　you　have　changed
a　deal？　　I　am　glad　that　you　have　prospered。〃　　And　then；　abruptly
changing　the　subject　before　he　had　time　to　answer　her；　she　came　to
the　matter　uppermost　in　her　mind。

〃I　have　so　wanted　to　see　you　in　all　these　months；　Andre。　　You　were
the　only　one　who　could　help　me；　the　only　one　who　could　tell　me　the
truth；　and　I　was　angry　with　you　for　never　having　written　to　say
where　you　were　to　be　found。〃

〃Of　course　you　encouraged　me　to　do　so　when　last　we　met　in　Nantes。〃

〃What？　　Still　resentful？〃

〃I　am　never　resentful。　　You　should　know　that。〃　　He　expressed　one　of
his　vanities。　　He　loved　to　think　himself　a　Stoic。　　〃But　I　still　bear
the　scar　of　a　wound　that　would　be　the　better　for　the　balm　of　your
retraction。〃

〃Why；　then；　I　retract；　Andre。　　And　now　tell　me。〃

〃Yes；　a　self…seeking　retraction；〃　said　he。　　〃You　give　me　something
that　you　may　obtain　something。〃　　He　laughed　quite　pleasantly。
〃Well；　well；　command　me。〃

〃Tell　me；　Andre。〃　She　paused；　as　if　in　some　difficulty；　and　then
went　on；　her　eyes　upon　the　ground：　〃Tell　me　…　the　truth　of　that
event　at　the　Feydau。〃

The　request　fetched　a　frown　to　his　brow。　　He　suspected　at　once　the
thought　that　prompted　it。　　Quite　simply　and　briefly　he　gave　her
his　version　of　the　affair。

She　listened　very　attentively。　　When　he　had　done　she　sighed；　her
face　was　very　thoughtful。

〃That　is　much　what　I　was　told；〃　she　said。　　〃But　it　was　added　that
M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　had　gone　to　the　theatre　expressly　for　the
purpose　of　breaking　finally　with　La　Binet。　　Do　you　know　if　that
was　so？〃

〃I　don't；　nor　of　any　reason　why　it　should　be　so。　　La　Binet
provided　him　the　sort　of　amusement　that　he　and　his　kind　are　forever
craving。。。　〃

〃Oh；　there　was　a　reason；〃　she　interrupted　him。　　〃I　was　the　reason。
I　spoke　to　Mme。　de　Sautron。　　I　told　her　that　I　would　not　continue
to　receive　one　who　came　to　me　contaminated　in　that　fashion。〃　　She
spoke　of　it　with　obvious　difficulty；　her　colour　rising　as　he
watched　her　half…averted　face。

〃Had　you　listened　to　me。。。　〃　he　was　beginning；　when　again　she
interrupted　him。

〃M。　de　Sautron　conveyed　my　decision　to　him；　and　afterwards
represented　him　to　me　as　a　man　in　despair；　repentant；　ready　to
give　proofs　…　any　proofs　…　of　his　sincerity　and　devotion　to　me。　　He
told　me　that　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　had　sworn　to　him　that　he　would
cut　short　that　affair；　that　he　would　see　La　Binet　no　more。　　And
then；　on　the　very　next　day　I　heard　of　his　having　all　but　lost　his
life　in　that　riot　at　the　theatre。　　He　had　gone　straight　from　that
interview　with　M。　de　Sautron；　straight　from　those　protestations　of
future　wisdom；　to　La　Binet。　　I　was　indignant。　　I　pronounced　myself
finally。　　I　stated　definitely　that　I　would　not　in　any　circumstances
receive　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　again！　　And　then　they　pressed　this
explanation　upon　me