scaramouche-第62章

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looked　now　with　a　wistfulness；　a　sadness　indescribable；　at
Andre…Louis。

〃And　so　you　know；　my　child？〃　Her　voice　was　stifled　to　a　whisper。

〃I　know；　madame　my　mother。〃

The　grimness；　the　subtle　blend　of　merciless　derision　and　reproach
in　which　it　was　uttered　completely　escaped　her。　　She　cried　out　at
the　new　name。　　For　her　in　that　moment　time　and　the　world　stood
still。　　Her　peril　there　in　Paris　as　the　wife　of　an　intriguer　at
Coblenz　was　blotted　out；　together　with　every　other　consideration
　…　thrust　out　of　a　consciousness　that　could　find　room　for　nothing
else　beside　the　fact　that　she　stood　acknowledged　by　her　only　son；
this　child　begotten　in　adultery；　borne　furtively　and　in　shame　in　a
remote　Brittany　village　eight…and…twenty　years　ago。　　Not　even　a
thought　for　the　betrayal　of　that　inviolable　secret；　or　the　con…
sequences　that　might　follow；　could　she　spare　in　this　supreme　moment。

She　took　one　or　two　faltering　steps　towards　him；　hesitating。　　Then
she　opened　her　arms。　　Sobs　suffocated　her　voice。

〃Won't　you　come　to　me；　Andre…Louis？〃

A　moment　yet　he　stood　hesitating；　startled　by　that　appeal；　angered
almost　by　his　heart's　response　to　it；　reason　and　sentiment　at　grips
in　his　soul。　　This　was　not　real；　his　reason　postulated；　this
poignant　emotion　that　she　displayed　and　that　he　experienced　was
fantastic。　　Yet　he　went。　　Her　arms　enfolded　him；　her　wet　cheek　was
pressed　hard　against　his　own；　her　frame；　which　the　years　had　not
yet　succeeded　in　robbing　of　its　grace；　was　shaken　by　the　passionate
storm　within　her。

〃Oh；　Andre…Louis；　my　child；　if　you　knew　how　I　have　hungered　to　hold
you　so！　　If　you　knew　how　in　denying　myself　this　I　have　atoned　and
suffered！　　Kercadiou　should　not　have　told　you　…　not　even　now。　　It
was　wrong　…　most　wrong；　perhaps；　to　you。　　It　would　have　been　better
that　he　should　have　left　me　here　to　my　fate；　whatever　that　may　be。
And　yet　…　come　what　may　of　this　…　to　be　able　to　hold　you　so；　to　be
able　to　acknowledge　you；　to　hear　you　call　me　mother　…　oh！
Andre…Louis；　I　cannot　now　regret　it。　　I　cannot。。。　I　cannot　wish　it
otherwise。〃

〃Is　there　any　need；　madame？〃　he　asked　her；　his　stoicism　deeply
shaken。　　〃There　is　no　occasion　to　take　others　into　our　confidence。
This　is　for　to…night　alone。　　To…night　we　are　mother　and　son。
To…morrow　we　resume　our　former　places；　and；　outwardly　at　least；
forget。〃

〃Forget？　　Have　you　no　heart；　Andre…Louis？〃

The　question　recalled　him　curiously　to　his　attitude　towards　life
　…　that　histrionic　attitude　of　his　that　he　accounted　true　philosophy。
Also　he　remembered　what　lay　before　them；　and　he　realized　that　he
must　master　not　only　himself　but　her；　that　to　yield　too　far　to
sentiment　at　such　a　time　might　be　the　ruin　of　them　all。

〃It　is　a　question　propounded　to　me　so　often　that　it　must　contain
the　truth；〃　said　he。　　〃My　rearing　is　to　blame　for　that。〃

She　tightened　her　clutch　about　his　neck　even　as　he　would　have
attempted　to　disengage　himself　from　her　embrace。

〃You　do　not　blame　me　for　your　rearing？　　Knowing　all；　as　you　do；
Andre…Louis；　you　cannot　altogether　blame。　　You　must　be　merciful　to
me。　　You　must　forgive　me。　　You　must！　　I　had　no　choice。〃

〃When　we　know　all　of　whatever　it　may　be；　we　can　never　do　anything
but　forgive；　madame。　　That　is　the　profoundest　religious　truth　that
was　ever　written。　　It　contains；　in　fact；　a　whole　religion　…　the
noblest　religion　any　man　could　have　to　guide　him。　I　say　this　for
your　comfort；　madame　my　mother。〃

She　sprang　away　from　him　with　a　startled　cry。　　Beyond　him　in　the
shadows　by　the　door　a　pale　figure　shimmered　ghostly。　　It　advanced
into　the　light；　and　resolved　itself　into　Aline。　　She　had　come　in
answer　to　that　forgotten　summons　madame　had　sent　her　by　Jacques。
Entering　unperceived　she　had　seen　Andre…Louis　in　the　embrace　of
the　woman　whom　he　addressed　as　〃mother。〃　She　had　recognized　him
instantly　by　his　voice；　and　she　could　not　have　said　what　bewildered
her　more：　his　presence　there　or　the　thing　she　overheard。

〃You　heard；　Aline？〃　madame　exclaimed。

〃I　could　not　help　it；　madame。　　You　sent　for　me。　　I　am　sorry　if。。。　〃
She　broke　off；　and　looked　at　Andre…Louis　long　and　curiously。　　She
was　pale；　but　quite　composed。　　She　held　out　her　hand　to　him。　　〃And
so　you　have　come　at　last；　Andre；〃　said　she。　　〃You　might　have　come
before。〃

〃I　come　when　I　am　wanted；〃　was　his　answer。　　〃Which　is　the　only　time
in　which　one　can　be　sure　of　being　received。〃　　He　said　it　without
bitterness；　and　having　said　it　stooped　to　kiss　her　hand。

〃You　can　forgive　me　what　is　past；　I　hope；　since　I　failed　of　my
purpose；〃　he　said　gently；　half…pleading。　　〃I　could　not　have　come　to
you　pretending　that　the　failure　was　intentional　…　a　compromise
between　the　necessities　of　the　case　and　your　own　wishes。　　For　it
was　not　that。　　And　yet；　you　do　not　seem　to　have　profited　by　my
failure。　　You　are　still　a　maid。〃

She　turned　her　shoulder　to　him。

〃There　are　things；〃　she　said；　〃that　you　will　never　understand。〃

〃Life；　for　one；〃　he　acknowledged。　　〃I　confess　that　I　am　finding　it
bewildering。　　The　very　explanations　calculated　to　simplify　it　seem
but　to　complicate　it　further。〃　　And　he　looked　at　Mme。　de　Plougastel。

〃You　mean　something；　I　suppose；〃　said　mademoiselle。

〃Aline！〃　　It　was　the　Countess　who　spoke。　　She　knew　the　danger　of
half…discoveries。　　〃I　can　trust　you；　child；　I　know；　and　Andre…Louis；
I　am　sure；　will　offer　no　objection。〃　　She　had　taken　up　the　letter
to　show　it　to　Aline。　　Yet　first　her　eyes　questioned　him。

〃Oh；　none；　madame；〃　he　assured　her。　　〃It　is　entirely　a　matter　for
yourself。〃

Aline　looked　from　one　to　the　other　with　troubled　eyes；　hesitating
to　take　the　letter　that　was　now　proffered。　　When　she　had　read　it
through；　she　very　thoughtfully　replaced　it　on　the　table。　　A　moment
she　stood　there　with　bowed　head；　the　other　two　watching　her。　　Then
impulsively　she　ran　to　madame　and　put　her　arms　about　her。

〃Aline！〃　It　was　a　cry　of　wonder；　almost　of　joy。　　〃You　do　not
utterly　abhor　me！〃

〃My　dear；〃　said　Aline；　and　kissed　the　tear…stained　face　that　seemed
to　have　grown　years　older　in　these　last　few　hours。

In　the　background　Andre…Louis；　steeling　himself　against　emotionalism；
spoke　with　the　voice　of　Scaramouche。

〃It　would　be　well；　mesdames；　to　postpone　all　transports　until　they
can　be　indulged　at　greater　leisure　and　in　more　security。　　It　is
growing　late。　　If　we　are　to　get　out　of　this　shambles　we　should　be
wise　to　take　the　road　without　more　delay。〃

It　was　a　tonic　as　effective　as　it　was　necessary。　　It　startled　them
into　remembrance　of　their　circumstances；　and　under　the　spur　of　it
they　went　at　once　to　make　their　preparations。

They　left　him　for　perhaps　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　to　pace　that　long
room　alone；　saved　only　from　impatience　by　the　turmoil　of　his　mind。
When　at　length　they　returned；　they　were　accompanied　by　a　tall　man
in　a　full…skirted　shaggy　greatcoat　and　a　broad　hat　the　brim　of
which　was　turned　down　all　around。　　He　remained　respectfully　by　the
door　in　the　shadows。

Between　them　the　two　women　had　concerted　it　thus；　or　rather　the
Countess　had　so　concerted　it　when　Aline　had　warned　her　that
Andre…Louis'　bitter　hostility　towards　the　Marquis　made　it
unthinkable　that　he　should　move　a　finger　consciously　to　save　him。

Now　despite　the　close　friendship　uniting　M。　de　Kercadiou　and　his
niece　with　Mme。　de　Plougastel；　there　were　several　matters　concerning
them　of　which　the　Countess　was　in　ignorance。　　One　of　these　was　the
project　at　one　time　existing　of　a　marriage　between　Aline　and　M。　de
La　Tour　d'Azyr。　　It　was　a　matter　that　Aline　…　naturally　enough　in
the　state　of　her　feelings　…　had　never　mentioned；　nor　had　M。　de
Kercadiou　ever　alluded　to　it　since　his　coming　to　Meudon；　by　when　he
had　perceived　how　unlikely　it　was　ever　to　be　realized。

M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr's　concern　for　Aline　on　that　morning　of　the
duel　when　he　had　found　her　baif…swooning　in　Mme。　de　Plougastel's
carriage　had　been　of　a　circumspection　that　betrayed　nothing　of　his
real　interest　in　her；　and　therefore　had　appeared　no　more　than
natural　in　one　who　must　account　himself　the　cause　of　her　distress。
Similarly　Mme。　de　Plougastel　had　never　realized　nor　did　she　realize
now　…　for　Aline　did　not　trouble　fully　to　enlighten　her　…　that　the
hostility　between　the　two　men　was　other　than　political；　the　quarrel
other　than　that　which　already　had　taken　Andre…Louis　to　the　Bois　on
every　day　of　the　preceding　week。　　But；　at　least；　she　realized　that
even　if　Andre…Louis'　rancour　should　have　no　other　source；　yet　that
inconclusive　duel　was　cause　enough　for　Aline's　fears。

And　so　she　had　proposed　this　obvious　deception；　and　Aline　had
consented　to　be　a　passive　party　to　it。　　They　had　made　the　mistake
of　not　fully　forewarning　and　persuading　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr。　　They
had　trusted　entirely　to　his　anxiety　to　escape　from　Paris　to　keep
him　rigidly　within　the　part　imposed　upon　him。　They　had　reckoned
without　the　queer　sense　of　honour　that　moved　such　men　as　M。　le
Marquis；　nurtured　upon　a　code　of　shams。

Andre…Louis；　turning　to　scan　that　muffled　figure；　advanced　from
the　dark　depths　of　the　salon。　　As　the　light　beat　on　his　white；
lean　face　the　pseudo…footman　started。　　The　next　moment　he　too
stepped　forward　into　the　light；　and　swept　his　broad…brimmed　hat
from　his　brow。　　As　he　did　so　Andre…Louis　observed　that　his　hand
was　fine　and　white　and　that　a　jewel　flashed　from　one　of　the
fingers。　　Then　he　caught　his　breath；　and　stiffened　in　every　line
as　he　recognized　the　face　revealed　to　him。

〃Monsieur；〃　that　stern；　proud　man　was　saying；　〃I　cannot　take
advantage　of　your　ignorance。　　If　these　ladies　can　persuade　you　to
save　me；　at　least　it　is　due　to　you　that　you　shall　know　whom　you
are　saving。〃

He　stood　there　by　the　table　very　erect　and　dignified；　ready　to
perish　as　he　had　lived　…　if　perish　he　must　…　without　fear　and
without　deception。

Andre…Louis　came　slowly　forward　until　he　reached　the　table　on　the
other　side；　and　then　at　last　the　muscles　of　his　set　face　relaxed；
and　he　laughed。

〃You　laugh？〃　said　M。　de　La　Tour　dAzyr；　frowning；　offended。

〃It　is　so　damnably　amusing；〃　said　Andre…Louis。

〃You've　an　odd　sense　of　humour；　M。　Moreau。〃

〃Oh；　admitted。　　The　unexpected　always　moves　me　so。　　I　have　found
you　many　things　in　the　course　of　our　acquaintance。　　To…night　you
are　the　one　thing　I　never　expected　to　find　you：　an　honest　man。〃

M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　quivered。　　But　he　attempted　no　reply。

〃Because　of　that；　monsieur；　I　am　disposed　to　be　clement。　　It　is
probably　a　foolishness。　　But　you　have　surprised　me　into　it。　　I
give　you　three　minutes；　monsieur；　in　which　to　leave　this　house；　and
to　take　your　own　measures　for　your　safety。　　What　afterwards　happens
to　you　shall　be　no　concern　of　mine。

〃Ah；　no；　Andre！　　Listen。。。　〃　　Madame　began　in　anguish。

〃Pardon；　madame。　　It　is　the　utmost　that　I　will　do；　and　already　I
am　violating　what　I　conceive　to　be　my　duty。　　If　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr
remains　he　not　only　ruins　himself；　but　he　imperils　you。　　For　unless
he　departs　at　once；　he　goes　with　me　to　the　headquarters　of　the
section；　and　the　section　will　have　his　head　on　a　pike　inside　the
hour。　　He　is　a　notorious　counter…revolutionary；　a　knight　of　the
dagger；　one　of　those　whom　an　exasperated　populace　is　determined　to
exterminate。　　Now；　monsieur；　you　know　what　awaits　you