scaramouche-第59章

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〃What　do　you　want　here；　sir？〃

〃To　serve　you　if　possible；　my　godfather；〃　was　the　disarming　answer。

But　it　did　not　disarm　M。　de　Kercadiou。　　〃You　have　stayed　away　so
long　that　I　hoped　you　would　not　again　disturb　me。〃

〃I　should　not　have　ventured　to　disobey　you　now　were　it　not　for　the
hope　that　I　can　be　of　service。　　I　have　seen　Rougane；　the　mayor。。。　〃

〃What's　that　you　say　about　not　venturing　to　disobey？〃

〃You　forbade　me　your　house；　monsieur。〃

M。　de　Kercadiou　stared　at　him　helplessly。

〃And　is　that　why　you　have　not　come　near　me　in　all　this　time？〃

〃Of　course。　　Why　else？〃

M。　de　Kercadiou　continued　to　stare。　　Then　he　swore　under　his　breath。
It　disconcerted　him　to　have　to　deal　with　a　man　who　insisted　upon
taking　him　so　literally。　　He　had　expected　that　Andre…Louis　would
have　come　contritely　to　admit　his　fault　and　beg　to　be　taken　back
into　favour。　　He　said　so。

〃But　how　could　I　hope　that　you　meant　less　than　you　said；　monsieur？
You　were　so　very　definite　in　your　declaration。　　What　expressions　of
contrition　could　have　served　me　without　a　purpose　of　amendment？
And　I　had　no　notion　of　amending。　　We　may　yet　be　thankful　for　that。〃

〃Thankful？〃

〃I　am　a　representative。　　I　have　certain　powers。　　I　am　very
opportunely　returning　to　Paris。　　Can　I　serve　you　where　Rougane
cannot？　　The　need；　monsieur；　would　appear　to　be　very　urgent　if　the
half　of　what　I　suspect　is　true。　　Aline　should　be　placed　in　safety
at　once。〃

M。　de　Kercadiou　surrendered　unconditionally。　　He　came　over　and　took
Andre…Louis'　hand。

〃My　boy；〃　he　said；　and　he　was　visibly　moved；　〃there　is　in　you　a
certain　nobility　that　is　not　to　be　denied。　　If　I　seemed　harsh　with
you；　then；　it　was　because　I　was　fighting　against　your　evil
proclivities。　　I　desired　to　keep　you　out　of　the　evil　path　of
politics　that　have　brought　this　unfortunate　country　into　so　terrible
a　pass。　　The　enemy　on　the　frontier；　civil　war　about　to　flame　out　at
home。　　That　is　what　you　revolution。　aries　have　done。〃

Andre…Louis　did　not　argue。　　He　passed　on。

〃About　Aline？〃　he　asked。　　And　himself　answered　his　own　question：
〃She　is　in　Paris；　and　she　must　be　brought　out　of　it　at　once；　before
the　place　becomes　a　shambles；　as　well　it　may　once　the　passions　that
have　been　brewing　all　these　months　are　let　loose。　　Young　Rougane's
plan　is　good。　　At　least；　I　cannot　think　of　a　better　one。〃

〃But　Rougane　the　elder　will　not　hear　of　it。〃

〃You　mean　he　will　not　do　it　on　his　own　responsibility。　　But　he　has
consented　to　do　it　on　mine。　　I　have　left　him　a　note　over　my　signature
to　the　effect　that　a　safe…conduct　for　Mlle。　de　Kercadiou　to　go　to
Paris　and　return　is　issued　by　him　in　compliance　with　orders　from　me。
The　powers　I　carry　and　of　which　I　have　satisfied　him　are　his
sufficient　justification　for　obeying　me　in　this。　　I　have　left　him
that　note　on　the　understanding　that　he　is　to　use　it　only　in　an
extreme　case；　for　his　own　protection。　　In　exchange　he　has　given　me
this　safe…conduct。〃

〃You　already　have　it！〃

M。　de　Kercadiou　took　the　sheet　of　paper　that　Andre…Louis　held　out。
His　hand　shook。　　He　approached　it　to　the　cluster　of　candles　burning
on　the　console　and　screwed　up　his　short…sighted　eyes　to　read。

〃If　you　send　that　to　Paris　by　young　Rougane　in　the　morning；〃　said
Andre…Louis；　〃Aline　should　be　here　by　noon。　　Nothing；　of　course；
could　be　done　to…night　without　provoking　suspicion。　　The　hour　is
too　late。　　And　now；　monsieur　my　godfather；　you　know　exactly　why　I
intrude　in　violation　of　your　commands。　　If　there　is　any　other　way
in　which　I　can　serve　you；　you　have　but　to　name　it　whilst　I　am　here。〃

〃But　there　is；　Andre。　　Did　not　Rougane　tell　you　that　there　were
others。。。　〃

〃He　mentioned　Mme。　de　Plougastel　and　her　servant。〃

〃Then　why。。。　？〃　　M。　de　Kercadiou　broke　off；　looking　his　question。

Very　solemnly　Andre…Louis　shook　his　head。

〃That　is　impossible；〃　he　said。

M。　de　Kercadiou's　mouth　fell　open　in　astonishment。　　〃Impossible！〃
he　repeated。　　〃But　why？〃

〃Monsieur；　I　can　do　what　I　am　doing　for　Aline　without　offending　my
conscience。　　Besides；　for　Aline　I　would　offend　my　conscience　and　do
it。　　But　Mme。　de　Plougastel　is　in　very　different　case。　　Neither　Aline
nor　any　of　hers　have　been　concerned　in　counter…revolutionary　work；
which　is　the　true　source　of　the　calamity　that　now　threatens　to
overtake　us。　　I　can　procure　her　removal　from　Paris　without
self…reproach；　convinced　that　I　am　doing　nothing　that　any　one　could
censure；　or　that　might　become　the　subject　of　enquiries。　　But　Mme。　de
Plougastel　is　the　wife　of　M。　le　Comte　de　Plougastel；　whom　all　the
world　knows　to　be　an　agent　between　the　Court　and　the　emigres。〃

〃That　is　no　fault　of　hers；〃　cried　M。　de　Kercadiou　through　his
consternation。

〃Agreed。　　But　she　may　be　called　upon　at　any　moment　to　establish　the
fact　that　she　is　not　a　party　to　these　manoeuvres。　　It　is　known　that
she　was　in　Paris　to…day。　　Should　she　be　sought　to…morrow　and　should
it　be　found　that　she　has　gone；　enquiries　will　certainly　be　made；
from　which　it　must　result　that　I　have　betrayed　my　trust；　and　abused
my　powers　to　serve　personal　ends。　　I　hope；　monsieur；　that　you　will
understand　that　the　risk　is　too　great　to　be　run　for　the　sake　of　a
stranger。〃

〃A　stranger？〃　said　the　Seigneur　reproachfully。

〃Practically　a　stranger　to　me；〃　said　Andre…Louis。

〃But　she　is　not　a　stranger　to　me；　Andre。　　She　is　my　cousin　and　very
dear　and　valued　friend。　　And；　mon　Dieu；　what　you　say　but　increases
the　urgency　of　getting　her　out　of　Paris。　　She　must　be　rescued；　Andre；
at　all　costs　…　she　must　be　rescued！　　Why；　her　case　is　infinitely
more　urgent　than　Aline's！〃

He　stood　a　suppliant　before　his　godson；　very　different　now　from　the
stern　man　who　had　greeted　him　on　his　arrival。　　His　face　was　pale；
his　hands　shook；　and　there　were　beads　of　perspiration　on　his　brow。

〃Monsieur　my　godfather；　I　would　do　anything　in　reason。　　But　I　cannot
do　this。　　To　rescue　her　might　mean　ruin　for　Aline　and　yourself　as
well　as　for　me。〃

〃We　must　take　the　risk。〃

〃You　have　a　right　to　speak　for　yourself；　of　course。〃

〃Oh；　and　for　you；　believe　me；　Andre；　for　you！〃　　He　came　close　to
the　young　man。　　〃Andre；　I　implore　you　to　take　my　word　for　that；　and
to　obtain　this　permit　for　Mme。　de　Plougastel。〃

Andre　looked　at　him　mystified。　　〃This　is　fantastic；〃　he　said。　　〃I
have　grateful　memories　of　the　lady's　interest　in　me　for　a　few　days
once　when　I　was　a　child；　and　again　more　recently　in　Paris　when　she
sought　to　convert　me　to　what　she　accounts　the　true　political
religion。　　But　I　do　not　risk　my　neck　for　her　…　no；　nor　yours；　nor
Aline's。〃

〃Ah！　　But；　Andre。。。　〃

〃That　is　my　last　word；　monsieur。　　It　is　growing　late；　and　I　desire
to　sleep　in　Paris。〃

〃No；　no！　　Wait！〃　　The　Lord　of　Gavrillac　was　displaying　signs　of
unspeakable　distress。　　〃Andre；　you　must！〃

There　was　in　this　insistence　and；　still　more；　in　the　frenzied
manner　of　it；　something　so　unreasonable　that　Andre　could　not　fail
to　assume　that　some　dark　and　mysterious　motive　lay　behind　it。

〃I　must？〃　he　echoed。　　〃Why　must　I？　　Your　reasons；monsieur？〃

〃Andre；　my　reasons　are　overwhelming。〃

〃Pray　allow　me　to　be　the　judge　of　that。〃　Andre…Louis'　manner　was
almost　peremptory。

The　demand　seemed　to　reduce　M。　de　Kercadiou　to　despair。　　He　paced
the　room；　his　hands　tight…clasped　behind　him；　his　brow　wrinkled。
At　last　he　came　to　stand　before　his　godson。

〃Can't　you　take　my　word　for　it　that　these　reasons　exist？〃　he　cried
in　anguish。

〃In　such　a　matter　as　this　…　a　matter　that　may　involve　my　neck？　　Oh；
monsieur；　is　that　reasonable？〃

〃I　violate　my　word　of　honour；　my　oath；　if　I　tell　you。〃　　M。　de
Kercadiou　turned　away；　wringing　his　hands；　his　condition　visibly
piteous；　then　turned　again　to　Andre。　　〃But　in　this　extremity；　in
this　desperate　extremity；　and　since　you　so　ungenerously　insist；　I
shall　have　to　tell　you。　　God　help　me；　I　have　no　choice。　　She　will
realize　that　when　she　knows。　　Andre；　my　boy。。。　〃　　He　paused　again；
a　man　afraid。　　He　set　a　hand　on　his　godson's　shoulder；　and　to　his
increasing　amazement　Andre…Louis　perceived　that　over　those　pale；
short…sighted　eyes　there　was　a　film　of　tears。　　〃Mme。　de　Plougastel
is　your　mother。〃

Followed；　for　a　long　moment；　utter　silence。　　This　thing　that　he　was
told　was　not　immediately　understood。　　When　understanding　came　at
last　Andre…Louis'　first　impulse　was　to　cry　out。　　But　he　possessed
himself；　and　played　the　Stoic。　　He　must　ever　be　playing　something。
That　was　in　his　nature。　　And　he　was　true　to　his　nature　even　in　this
supreme　moment。　　He　continued　silent　until；　obeying　that　queer
histrionic　instinct；　he　could　trust　himself　to　speak　without　emotion。
〃I　see；〃　he　said；　at　last；　quite　coolly。

His　mind　was　sweeping　back　over　the　past。　　Swiftly　he　reviewed　his
memories　of　Mme。　de　Plougastel；　her　singular　if　sporadic　interest
in　him；　the　curious　blend　of　affection　and　wistfulness　which　her
manner　towards　him　had　always　presented；　and　at　last　he　understood
so　much　that　hithert　had　intrigued　him。

〃I　see；〃　he　said　again；　and　added　now；　〃Of　course；　any　but　a　fool
would　have　guessed　it　long　ago。〃

It　was　M。　de　Kercadiou　who　cried　out；　M。　de　Kercadiou　who　recoiled
as　from　a　blow。

〃My　God；　Andre；　of　what　are　you　made？　　You　can　take　such　an
announcement　in　this　fashion？〃。

〃And　how　would　you　have　me　take　it？　　Should　it　surprise　me　to
discover　that　I　had　a　mother？　　After　all；　a　mother　is　an
indispensable　necessity　to　getting　one's　self　born。〃

He　sat　down　abruptly；　to　conceal　the　too…revealing　fact　that　his
limbs　were　shaking。　　He　pulled　a　handkerchief　from　his　pocket　to
mop　his　brow；　which　had　grown　damp。　　And　then；quite　suddenly；　he
found　himself　weeping。

At　the　sight　of　those　tears　streaming　silently　down　that　face　that
had　turned　so　pale；　M。　de　Kercadiou　came　quickly　across　to　him。　　He
sat　down　beside　him　and　threw　an　arm　affectionately　over　his　shoulder。

〃Andre；　my　poor　lad；〃　he　murmured。　　〃I。。。　I　was　fool　enough　to　think　
ou　had　no　heart。　　You　deceived　me　with　your　infernal　pretence；　and
now　I　see。。。　I　see。。。　〃　　He　was　not　sure　what　it　was　that　he　saw；　or
else　he　hesitated　to　express　it。

〃I：　is　nothing；　monsieur。　　I　am　tired　out；　and。。。　and　I　have　a　cold
in　the　head。〃　　And　then；　finding　the　part　beyond　his　power；　he
abruptly　threw　it　up；　utterly　abandoned　all　pretence。　　〃Why。。。　why
has　there　been　all　this　mystery？〃　he　asked。　　〃Was　it　intended　that
I　should　never　know？〃

〃I：　was；　Andre。　　It。。。　it　had　to　be；　for　prudence'　sake。〃

〃Eut　why？　　Complete　your　confidence；　sir。　　Surely　you　cannot　leave
it　there。　　Having　told　me　so　much；　you　must　tell　me　all。〃

〃'The　reason；　my　boy；　is　that　you　were　born　some　three　years　after
your　mother's　marriage　with　M。　de　Plougastel；　some　eighteen　months
after　M。　de　Plougastel　had　been　away　with　the　army；　and　some　four
months　before　his　return　to　his　wife。　　It　is　a　matter　that　M。　de
Plougastel　has　never　suspeted；　and　for　gravest　family　reasons　must
never　suspect。　　That　is　why　the　utmost　secrecy　has　been　preserved。
That　is　why　none　was　ever　allowed　to　know。　　Your　mother　came　betimes
into　Brittany；　and　under　an　assumed　name　spent　some　months　in　the
village　of　Moreau。　　It　was　while　she　was　there　that　you　were　born。〃

Andre…Louis　turned　it　over　in　his　mind。　　He　had　dried　his　tears。
And　sat