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Marquis rolled away from Sautron in a cloud of gloom。 Twenty…four
hours with La Binet had been more than enough for a man of his
fastidious and discerning taste。 He looked back upon the episode
with nausea … the inevitable psychological reaction … marvelling
at himself that until yesterday he should have found her so
desirable； and cursing himself that for the sake of that ephemeral
and worthless gratification he should seriously have imperilled his
chances of winning Mademoiselle de Kercadiou to wife。 There is；
after all； nothing very extraordinary in his frame of mind； so that
I need not elaborate it further。 It resulted from the conflict
between the beast and the angel that go to make up the composition
of every man。
The Chevalier de Chabrillane … who in reality occupied towards the
Marquis a position akin to that of gentleman…in…waiting … sat
opposite to him in the enormous travelling berline。 A small folding
table had been erected between them； and the Chevalier suggested
piquet。 But M。 le Marquis was in no humour for cards。 His thoughts
absorbed him。 As they were rattling over the cobbles of Nantes'
streets； he remembered a promise to La Binet to witness her
performance that night in 〃The Faithless Lover。〃 And now he was
running away from her。 The thought was repugnant to him on two
scores。 He was breaking his pledged word； and he was acting like a
coward。 And there was more than that。 He had led the mercenary
little strumpet … it was thus he thought of her at present； and
with some justice … to expect favours from him in addition to the
lavish awards which already he had made her。 The baggage had almost
sought to drive a bargain with him as to her future。 He was to take
her to Paris； put her into her own furniture … as the expression
ran； and still runs … and under the shadow of his powerful
protection see that the doors of the great theatres of the capital
should be opened to her talents。 He had not … he was thankful to
reflect … exactly committed himself。 But neither had he definitely
refused her。 It became necessary now to come to an understanding；
since he was compelled to choose between his trivial passion for
her … a passion quenched already … and his deep； almost spiritual
devotion to Mademoiselle de Kercadiou。
His honour； he considered； demanded of him that he should at once
deliver himself from a false position。 La Binet would make a scene；
of course； but he knew the proper specific to apply to hysteria of
that nature。 Money； after all； has its uses。
He pulled the cord。 The carriage rolled to a standstill； a footman
appeared at the door。
〃To the Theatre Feydau；〃 said he。
The footman vanished and the berline rolled on。 M。 de Chabrillane
laughed cynically。
〃I'll trouble you not to be amused；〃 snapped the Marquis。 〃You
don't understand。〃 Thereafter he explained himself。 It was a rare
condescension in him。 But； then； he could not bear to be
misunderstood in such a matter。 Chabrillane grew serious in
reflection of the Marquis' extreme seriousness。
〃Why not write？〃 he suggested。 〃Myself； I confess that I should
find it easier。
Nothing could better have revealed M。 le Marquis' state of mind
than his answer。
〃Letters are liable both to miscarriage and to misconstruction。
Two risks I will not run。 If she did not answer； I should never
know which had been incurred。 And I shall have no peace of mind
until I know that I have set a term to this affair。 The berline
can wait while we are at the theatre。 We will go on afterwards。
We will travel all night if necessary。〃
〃Peste！〃 said M。 de Chabrillane with a grimace。 But that was all。
The great travelling carriage drew up at the lighted portals of the
Feydau； and M。 le Marquis stepped out。 He entered the theatre with
Chabrillane； all unconsciously to deliver himself into the hands of
Andre…Louis。
Andre…Louis was in a state of exasperation produced by Climene's
long absence from Nantes in the company of M。 le Marquis； and fed
by the unspeakable complacency with which M。 Binet regarded that
event of quite unmistakable import。
However much he might affect the frame of mind of the stoics； and
seek to judge with a complete detachment； in the heart and soul of
him Andre…Louis was tormented and revolted。 It was not Climene he
blamed。 He had been mistaken in her。 She was just a poor weak
vessel driven helplessly by the first breath； however foul； that
promised her advancement。 She suffered from the plague of greed；
and he congratulated himself upon having discovered it before
making her his wife。 He felt for her now nothing but a deal of
pity and some contempt。 The pity was begotten of the love she had
lately inspired in him。 It might be likened to the dregs of love；
all that remained after the potent wine of it had been drained off。
His anger he reserved for her father and her seducer。
The thoughts that were stirring in him on that Monday morning； when
it was discovered that Climene had not yet returned from her
excursion of the previous day in the coach of M。 le Marquis； were
already wicked enough without the spurring they received from the
distraught Leandre。
Hitherto the attitude of each of these men towards the other had
been one of mutual contempt。 The phenomenon has frequently been
observed in like cases。 Now； what appeared to be a common
misfortune brought them into a sort of alliance。 So； at least； it
seemed to Leandre when he went in quest of Andre…Louis； who with
apparent unconcern was smoking a pipe upon the quay immediately
facing the inn。
〃Name of a pig！〃 said Leandre。 〃How can you take your ease and
smoke at such a time？〃
Scaramouche surveyed the sky。 〃I do not find it too cold；〃 said
he。 〃The sun is shining。 I am very well here。〃
〃Do I talk of the weather？〃 Leandre was very excited。
〃Of what； then？〃
〃Of Climene； of course。〃
〃Oh！ The lady has ceased to interest me；〃 he lied。
Leandre stood squarely in front of him； a handsome figure handsomely
dressed in these days； his hair well powdered； his stockings of silk。
His face was pale； his large eyes looked larger than usual。
〃Ceased to interest you？ Are you not to marry her？〃 Andre…Louis
expelled a cloud of smoke。 〃You cannot wish to be offensive。 Yet
you almost suggest that I live on other men's leavings。〃
〃My God！〃 said Leandre； overcome； and he stared awhile。 Then he
burst out afresh。 〃Are you quite heartless？ Are you always
Scaramouche？〃
〃What do you expect me to do？〃 asked Andre…Louis； evincing surprise
in his own turn； but faintly。
〃I do not expect you to let her go without a struggle。〃
〃But she has gone already。〃 Andre…Louis pulled at his pipe a
moment； what time Leandre clenched and unclenched his hands in
impotent rage。 〃And to what purpose struggle against the
inevitable？ Did you struggle when I took her from you？〃
〃She was not mine to be taken from me。 I but aspired； and you won
the race。 But even had it been otherwise where is the comparison？
That was a thing in honour； this … this is hell。〃
His emotion moved Andre…Louis。 He took Leandre's arm。 〃You're a
good fellow； Leandre。 I am