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creatures who parade themselves upon the stage。 But I did not
expect you to ape the ways of a man of fashion。 I was foolish
enough to imagine you to be different； rather above such trivial
pursuits。 I conceived you something of an idealist。〃
〃Sheer flattery。〃
〃So I perceive。 But you misled me。 You talked so much morality of
a kind； you made philosophy so readily； that I came to be deceived。
In fact； your hypocrisy was so consummate that I never suspected it。
With your gift of acting I wonder that you haven't joined Mlle。
Binet's troupe。〃
〃I have；〃 said he。
It had really become necessary to tell her； making choice of the
lesser of the two evils with which she confronted him。
He saw first incredulity； then consternation； and lastly disgust
overspread her face。
〃Of course；〃 said she； after a long pause； 〃that would have the
advantage of bringing you closer to your charmer。〃
〃That was only one of the inducements。 There was another。 Finding
myself forced to choose between the stage and the gallows； I had the
incredible weakness to prefer the former。 It was utterly unworthy
of a man of my lofty ideals； but … what would you？ Like other
ideologists； I find it easier to preach than to practise。 Shall I
stop the carriage and remove the contamination of my disgusting
person？ Or shall I tell you how it happened？〃
〃Tell me how it happened first。 Then we will decide。〃
He told her how he met the Binet Troupe； and how the men of the
marechaussee forced upon him the discovery that in its bosom he could
lie safely lost until the hue and cry had died down。 The explanation
dissolved her iciness。
〃My poor Andre； why didn't you tell me this at first？〃
〃For one thing； you didn't give me time； for another； I feared to
shock you with the spectacle of my degradation。〃
She took him seriously。 〃But where was the need of it？ And why did
you not send us word as I required you of your whereabouts？〃
〃I was thinking of it only yesterday。 I have hesitated for several
reasons。〃
〃You thought it would offend us to know what you were doing？〃
〃I think that I preferred to surprise you by the magnitude of my
ultimate achievements。〃
〃Oh； you are to become a great actor？〃 She was frankly scornful。
〃That is not impossible。 But I am more concerned to become a great
author。 There is no reason why you should sniff。 The calling is an
honourable one。 All the world is proud to know such men as
Beaumarchais and Chenier。〃
〃And you hope to equal them？〃
〃I hope to surpass them； whilst acknowledging that it was they who
taught me how to walk。 What did you think of the play last night？〃
〃It was amusing and well conceived。〃
〃Let me present you to the author。〃
〃You？ But the company is one of the improvisers。〃
〃Even improvisers require an author to write their scenarios。 That
is all I write at present。 Soon I shall be writing plays in the
modern manner。〃
〃You deceive yourself； my poor Andre。 The piece last night would
have been nothing without the players。 You are fortunate in your
Scaramouche。〃
〃In confidence … I present you to him。〃
〃You … Scaramouche？ You？〃 She turned to regard him fully。 He
smiled his close…lipped smile that made wrinkles like gashes in
his cheeks。 He nodded。 〃And I didn't recognize you！〃
〃I thank you for the tribute。 You imagined； of course； that I was
a scene…shifter。 And now that you know all about me； what of
Gavrillac？ What of my godfather？〃
He was well； she told him； and still profoundly indignant with
Andre…Louis for his defection； whilst secretly concerned on his
behalf。
〃I shall write to him to…day that I have seen you。〃
〃Do so。 Tell him that I am well and prospering。 But say no more。
Do not tell him what I am doing。 He has his prejudices too。
Besides； it might not be prudent。 And now the question I have been
burning to ask ever since I entered your carriage。 Why are you in
Nantes； Aline？〃
〃I am on a visit to my aunt； Mme。 de Sautron。 It was with her that
I came to the play yesterday。 We have been dull at the chateau； but
it will be different now。 Madame my aunt is receiving several guests
to…day。 M。 de La Tour d'Azyr is to be one of them。〃
Andre…Louis frowned and sighed。 〃Did you ever hear； Aline； how poor
Philippe de Vilmorin came by his end？〃
〃Yes； I was told； first by my uncle； then by M。 de La Tour d'Azyr；
himself。〃
〃Did not that help you to decide this marriage question？〃
〃How could it？ You forget that I am but a woman。 You don't expect
me to judge between men in matters such as these？〃
〃Why not？ You are well able to do so。 The more since you have
heard two sides。 For my godfather would tell you the truth。 If
you cannot judge； it is that you do not wish to judge。〃 His tone
became harsh。 〃Wilfully you close your eyes to justice that might
check the course of your unhealthy； unnatural ambition。〃
〃Excellent！〃 she exclaimed； and considered him with amusement and
something else。 〃Do you know that you are almost droll？ You rise
unblushing from the dregs of life in which I find you； and shake
off the arm of that theatre girl； to come and preach to me。〃
〃If these were the dregs of life I might still speak from them to
counsel you out of my respect and devotion ；Aline。〃 He was very
stiff and stern。 〃But they are not the dregs of life。 Honour and
virtue are possible to a theatre girl； they are impossible to a
lady who sells herself to gratify ambition； who for position； riches；
and a great title barters herself in marriage。〃
She looked at him breathlessly。 Anger turned her pale。 She reached
for the cord。
〃I think I had better let you alight so that you may go back to
practise virtue and honour with your theatre wench。〃
〃You shall not speak so of her； Aline。〃
〃Faith； now we are to have heat on her behalf。 You think I am too
delicate？ You think I should speak of her as a。。。 〃
〃If you must speak of her at all；〃 he interrupted； hotly； 〃you'll
speak of her as my wife。〃
Amazement smothered her anger。 Her pallor deepened。 〃My God！〃 she
said； and looked at him in horror。 And in horror she asked him
presently： 〃You are married … married to that …？〃
〃Not yet。 But I shall be； soon。 And let me tell you that this
girl whom you visit with your ignorant contempt is as good and pure
as you are； Aline。 She has wit and talent which have placed her
where she is and shall carry her a deal farther。 And she has the
womanliness to be guided by natural instincts in the selection of
her mate。〃
She was trembling with passion。 She tugged the cord。
〃You will descend this instant！〃 she told him fiercely。 〃That you
should dare to make a comparison between me and that。。。 〃
〃And my wife…to…be；〃 he interrupted； before she could speak the
infamous word。 He opened the door for himself without waiting for
the footman； and leapt down。 〃My compliments；〃 said he； furiously；
〃to the assassin you are to marry。〃 He slammed the door。 〃Drive
on；〃 he bade the coachman。
The carriage rolled away up the Faubourg Gigan； leaving him standing
where he had alighted； quivering with rage。 Gradually； as he walked
back to