scaramouche-第53章

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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。〃

Her　confidence　in　him　on　every　count　was　most　sweetly　flattering。
But　there　was　a　bitterness　behind　the　sweet。

〃Even　I；　mademoiselle；　let　me　assure　you。　　And　there　is　more　than
that。　　This　quarrel　which　M。　Moreau　has　forced　upon　me　is　no　new
thing。　　It　is　merely　the　culmination　of　a　long…drawn　persecution。

〃Which　you　invited；〃　she　cut　in。　　〃Be　just；　monsieur。〃

〃I　hope　that　it　is　not　in　my　nature　to　be　otherwise；　mademoiselle。〃

〃Consider；　then；　that　you　killed　his　friend。〃

〃I　find　in　that　nothing　with　which　to　reproach　myself。　　My
justification　lay　in　the　circumstances　…　the　subsequent　events　in
this　distracted　country　surely　confirm　it。〃

〃And。。。　〃　　She　faltered　a　little；　and　looked　away　from　him　for　the
first　time。　　〃And　that　you。。。　that　you。。。　And　what　of　Mademoiselle
Binet；　whom　he　was　to　have　married？〃

He　stared　at　her　for　a　moment　in　sheer　surprise。　　〃Was　to　have
married？〃　he　repeated　incredulously；　dismayed　almost。

〃You　did　not　know　that？〃

〃But　how　do　you？〃

〃Did　I　not　tell　you　that　we　are　as　brother　and　sister　almost？　　I
have　his　confidence。　　He　told　me；　before。。。　before　you　made　it
impossible。〃

He　looked　away；　chin　in　hand；　his　glance　thoughtful；　disturbed；
almost　wistful。

〃There　is；〃　he　said　slowly；　musingly。　　〃a　singular　fatality　at
work　between　that　man　and　me；　bringing　us　ever　each　by　turns
athwart　the　other's　path。。。　〃

He　sighed；　then　swung　to　face　her　again；　speaking　more　briskly：
〃Mademoiselle；　until　this　moment　I　had　no　knowledge　…　no　suspicion
of　this　thing。　　But。。。〃　　He　broke　off；　considered；　and　then
shrugged。　　〃If　I　wronged　him；　I　did　so　unconsciously。　　It　would　be
unjust　to　blame　me；　surely。　　In　all　our　actions　it　must　be　the
intention　alone　that　counts。〃

〃But　does　it　make　no　difference？〃

〃None　that　I　can　discern；　mademoiselle。　　It　gives　me　no
justification　to　withdraw　from　that　to　which　I　am　irrevocably
committed。　　No　justification；　indeed；　could　ever　be　greater　than
my　concern　for　the　pain　it　must　occasion　my　good　friend；　your
uncle；　and　perhaps　yourself；　mademoiselle。〃

She　rose　suddenly；　squarely　confronting　him；　desperate　now；
driven　to　play　the　only　card　upon　which　she　thought　she　might
count。

〃Monsieur；〃　she　said；　〃you　did　me　the　honour　to…day　to　speak　in
certain　terms；　to。。。　to　allude　to　certain　hopes　with　which　you
honour　me。〃

He　looked　at　her　almost　in　fear。　　In　silence；　not　daring　to　speak；
he　waited　for　her　to　continue。

〃I。。。　I。。。　Will　you　please　to　understand；　monsieur；　that　if　you
persist　in　this　matter；　if。。。　unless　you　can　break　this　engagement
of　yours　to…morrow　morning　in　the　Bois；　you　are　not　to　presume
to　mention　this　subject　to　me　again；　or；　indeed；　ever　again　to
approach　me。〃

To　put　the　matter　in　this　negative　way　was　as　far　as　she　could
possibly　go。　　It　was　for　him　to　make　the　positive　proposal　to
which　she　had　thus　thrown　wide　the　door。

〃Mademoiselle；　you　cannot　mean。。。　〃

〃I　do；　monsieur。。。　irrevocably；　please　to　understand。〃　　He　looked
at　her　with　eyes　of　misery；　his　handsome；　manly　face　a