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that she had seemed to speak a language almost unknown to the
little Breton lad … and her majestic air of the great world； had
scared him a little at first。 Very gently had she allayed those
fears of his； and by some mysterious enchantment she had completely
enslaved his regard。 He recalled now the terror in which he had
gone to the embrace to which he was bidden； and the subsequent
reluctance with which he had left those soft round arms。 He
remembered； too； how sweetly she had smelled and the very perfume
she had used； a perfume as of lilac … for memory is singularly
tenacious in these matters。
For three days whilst she had been at Gavrillac； he had gone daily
to the manor； and so had spent hours in her company。 A childless
woman with the maternal instinct strong within her； she had taken
this precociously intelligent； wide…eyed lad to her heart。
〃Give him to me； Cousin Quintin；〃 he remembered her saying on the
last of those days to his godfather。 〃Let me take him back with
me to Versailles as my adopted child。〃
But the Seigneur had gravely shaken his head in silent refusal； and
there had been no further question of such a thing。 And then； when
she said good…bye to him … the thing came flooding back to him now
… there had been tears in her eyes。
〃Think of me sometimes； Andre…Louis；〃 had been her last words。
He remembered how flattered he had been to have won within so short
a time the affection of this great lady。 The thing had given him a
sense of importance that had endured for months thereafter； finally
to fade into oblivion。
But all was vividly remembered now upon beholding her again； after
sixteen years； profoundly changed and matured； the girl … for she
had been no more in those old days … sunk in this worldly woman
with the air of calm dignity and complete self…possession。 Yet； he
insisted； he must have known her anywhere again。
Aline embraced her affectionately； and then answering the questioning
glance with faintly raised eyebrows that madame was directing towards
Aline's companion …
〃This is Andre…Louis；〃 she said。 〃You remember Andre…Louis； madame？〃
Madame checked。 Andre…Louis saw the surprise ripple over her face；
taking with it some of her colour； leaving her for a moment
breathless。
And then the voice … the well…remembered rich； musical voice … richer
and deeper now than of yore； repeated his name：
〃Andre…Louis！〃
Her manner of uttering it suggested that it awakened memories；
memories perhaps of the departed youth with which it was associated。
And she paused a long moment； considering him； a little wide…eyed；
what time he bowed before her。
〃But of course I remember him；〃 she said at last； and came towards
him； putting out her hand。 He kissed it dutifully； submissively；
instinctively。 〃And this is what you have grown into？〃 She
appraised him； and he flushed with pride at the satisfaction in
her tone。 He seemed to have gone back sixteen years； and to be
again the little Breton lad at Gavrillac。 She turned to Aline。
〃How mistaken Quintin was in his assumptions。 He was pleased to
see him again； was he not？〃
〃So pleased； madame； that he has shown me the door；〃 said
Andre…Louis。
〃Ah！〃 She frowned； conning him still with those dark； wistful eyes
of hers。 〃We must change that； Aline。 He is of course very angry
with you。 But it is not the way to make converts。 I will plead
for you； Andre…Louis。 I am a good advocate。〃
He thanked her and took his leave。
〃I leave my case in your hands with gratitude。 My homage； madame。〃
And so it happened that in spite of his godfather's forbidding
reception of him； the fragment of a song was on his lips as his
yellow chaise whirled him back to Paris and the Rue du Hasard。
That meeting with Mme。 de Plougastel had enheartened him； her
promise to plead his case in alliance with Aline gave him assurance
that all would be well。
That he was justified of this was proved when on the following
Thursday towards noon his academy was invaded by M。 de Kercadiou。
Gilles； the boy； brought him word of it； and breaking off at once
the lesson upon which he was engaged； he pulled off his mask； and
went as he was … in a chamois Waistcoat buttoned to the chin and
with his foil under his arm to the modest salon below； where his
godfather awaited him。
The florid little Lord of Gavrillac stood almost defiantly to
receive him。
〃I have been over…persuaded to forgive you；〃 he announced
aggressively； seeming thereby to imply that he consented to this
merely so as to put an end to tiresome importunities。
Andre…Louis was not misled。 He detected a pretence adopted by the
Seigneur so as to enable him to retreat in good order。
〃My blessings on the persuaders； whoever they may have been。 You
restore me my happiness； monsieur my godfather。〃
He took the hand that was proffered and kissed it； yielding to the
impulse of the unfailing habit of his boyish days。 It was an act
symbolical of his complete submission； reestablishing between
himself and his godfather the bond of protected and protector； with
all the mutual claims and duties that it carries。 No mere words
could more completely have made his peace with this man who loved
him。
M。 de Kercadiou's face flushed a deeper pink； his lip trembled； and
there was a huskiness in the voice that murmured 〃My dear boy！〃
Then he recollected himself； threw back his great head and frowned。
His voice resumed its habitual shrillness。 〃You realize； I hope；
that you have behaved damnably。。。 damnably； and with the utmost
ingratitude？〃
〃Does not that depend upon the point of view？〃 quoth Andre…Louis；
but his tone was studiously conciliatory。
〃It depends upon a fact； and not upon any point of view。 Since I
have been persuaded to overlook it； I trust that at least you have
some intention of reforming。〃
〃I。。。 I will abstain from politics；〃 said Andre…Louis； that being
the utmost he could say with truth。
〃That is something； at least。〃 His godfather permitted himself to
be mollified； now that a concession … or a seeming concession … had
been made to his just resentment。
〃A chair； monsieur。〃
〃No； no。 I have come to carry you off to pay a visit with me。 You
owe it entirely to Mme。 de Plougastel that I consent to receive you
again。 I desire that you come with me to thank her。〃
〃I have my engagements here。。。 〃 began Andre…Louis； and then broke
off。 〃No matter！ I will arrange it。 A moment。〃 And he was
turning away to reenter the academy。
〃What are your engagements？ You are not by chance a
fencing…instructor？〃 M。 de Kercadiou had observed the leather
waistcoat and the foil tucked under Andre…Louis' arm。
〃I am the master of this academy … the academy of the late Bertrand
des Amis； the most flourishing school of arms in Paris to…day。〃
M。 de Kercadiou's brows went up。
〃And you are master of it？〃
〃Maitre en fait d'Armes。 I succeeded to the academy upon the death
of des Amis。〃
He left M。 Kercadiou to think it over； and went to make his
arrangements and effect the necessary changes in his toilet。
〃So that is why you have taken to wearing a sword；〃 said M。 de
Kercadiou； as the