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was the evil genius of his life。 He saw now that do what he would；
kill him even though he might； he could never conquer him。 The last
word would always be with Andre…Louis Moreau。 In bitterness； in
rage； and in humiliation … a thing almost unknown to him … did he
realize it； and the realization steeled his purpose for all that
he perceived its futility。
Outwardly he showed himself calm and self…contained； properly
suggesting a man regretfully accepting the inevitable。 It would
have been as impossible to find fault with his bearing as to
attempt to turn him from the matter to which he was committed。
And so M。 de Kercadiou perceived。
〃My God！〃 was all that he said； scarcely above his breath； yet
almost in a groan。
M。 de La Tour d'Azyr did； as always； the thing that sensibility
demanded of him。 He took his leave。 He understood that to linger
where his news had produced such an effect would be impossible；
indecent。 So he departed； in a bitterness comparable only with
his erstwhile optimism； the sweet fruit of hope turned to a thing
of gall even as it touched his lips。 Oh； yes； the last word；
indeed； was with Andre…Louis Moreau … always！
Uncle and niece looked at each other as he passed out； and there
was horror in the eyes of both。 Aline's pallor was deathly almost；
and standing there now she wrung her hands as if in pain。
〃Why did you not ask him … beg him。。。 〃 She broke off。
〃To what end？ He was in the right； and。。。 and there are things
one cannot ask； things it would be a useless humiliation to ask。〃
He sat down； groaning。 〃Oh； the poor boy … the poor； misguided boy。〃
In the mind of neither； you see； was there any doubt of what must
be the issue。 The calm confidence in which La Tour d'Azyr had
spoken compelled itself to be shared。 He was no vainglorious
boaster； and they knew of what a force as a swordsman he was
generally accounted。
〃What does humiliation matter？ A life is at issue … Andre's life。〃
〃I know。 My God； don't I know？ And I would humiliate myself if
by humiliating myself I could hope to prevail。 But Azyr is a hard；
relentless man； and。。。 〃
Abruptly she left him。
She overtook the Marquis as he was in the act of stepping his
carriage。 He turned as she called； and bowed。
〃Mademoiselle？〃
At once he guessed her errand； tasted in anticipation the
unparalleled bitterness of being compelled to refuse her。 Yet at
her invitation he stepped back into the cool of the hall。
In the middle of the floor of chequered marbles； black and white；
stood a carved table of black oak。 By this he halted； leaning
lightly against it whilst she sat enthroned in the great crimson
chair beside it。
〃Monsieur； I cannot allow you so to depart；〃 she said。 〃You cannot
realize； monsieur； what a blow would be dealt my uncle if。。。 if
evil； irrevocable evil were to overtake his godson to…morrow。 The
expressions that he used at first。。。 〃
〃Mademoiselle； I perceived their true value。 Spare yourself。
Believe me I am profoundly desolated by circumstances which I had
not expected to find。 You must believe me when I say that。 It
is all that I can say。〃
〃Must it really be all？ Andre is very dear to his godfather。〃
The pleading tone cut him like a knife； and then suddenly it aroused
another emotion … an emotion which he realized to be utterly
unworthy； an emotion which； in his overwhelming pride of race；
seemed almost sullying； yet not to be repressed。 He hesitated to
give it utterance； hesitated even remotely to suggest so horrible
a thing as that in a man of such lowly origin he might conceivably
discover a rival。 Yet that sudden pang of jealousy was stronger
than his monstrous pride。
〃And to you； mademoiselle？ What is this Andre…Louis Moreau to you？
You will pardon the question。 But I desire clearly to understand。〃
Watching her he beheld the scarlet stain that overspread her face。
He read in it at first confusion； until the gleam of her blue eyes
announced its source to lie in anger。 That comforted him； since
he had affronted her； he was reassured。 It did not occur to him
that the anger might have another source。
〃Andre and I have been playmates from infancy。 He is very dear to
me； too； almost I regard him as a brother。 Were I in need of help；
and were my uncle not available； Andre would be the first man to
whom I should turn。 Are you sufficiently answered； monsieur？ Or
is there more of me you would desire revealed？〃
He bit his lip。 He was unnerved； he thought； this morning；
otherwise the silly suspicion with which he had offended could
never have occurred to him。
He bowed very low。 〃Mademoiselle； forgive that I should have
troubled you with such a question。 You have answered more fully
than I could have hoped or wished。〃
He said no more than that。 He waited for her to resume。 At a loss；
she sat in silence awhile； a pucker on her white brow； her fingers
nervously drumming on the table。 At last she flung herself headlong
against the impassive； polished front that he presented。
〃I have come； monsieur； to beg you to put off this meeting。〃
She saw the faint raising of his dark eyebrows； the faintly regretful
smile that scarcely did more than tinge his fine lips； and she
hurried on。 〃What honour can await you in such an engagement；
monsieur？〃
It was a shrewd thrust at the pride of race that she accounted his
paramount sentiment； that had as often lured him into error as it
had urged him into good。
〃I do not seek honour in it； mademoiselle； but … I must say it
… justice。 The engagement； as I have explained； is not of my
seeking。 It has been thrust upon me； and in honour I cannot draw
back。〃
〃Why； what dishonour would there be in sparing him？ Surely；
monsieur； none would call your courage in question？ None could
misapprehend your motives。〃
〃You are mistaken； mademoiselle。 My motives would most certainly
be misapprehended。 You forget that this young man has acquired in
the past week a certain reputation that might well make a man
hesitate to meet him。〃
She brushed that aside almost contemptuously； conceiving it the
merest quibble。
〃Some men； yes。 But not you； M。 le Marquis。〃
Her confidence in him on every count was most sweetly flattering。
But there was a bitterness behind the sweet。
〃Even I； mademoiselle； let me assure you。 And there is more than
that。 This quarrel which M。 Moreau has forced upon me is no new
thing。 It is merely the culmination of a long…drawn persecution。
〃Which you invited；〃 she cut in。 〃Be just； monsieur。〃
〃I hope that it is not in my nature to be otherwise； mademoiselle。〃
〃Consider； then； that you killed his friend。〃
〃I find in that nothing with which to reproach myself。 My
justification lay in the circumstances … the subsequent events in
this distracted country surely confirm it。〃
〃And。。。 〃 She faltered a little； and looked away from him for the
first time。 〃And that you。。。 that you。。。 And what of Mademoiselle
Binet； whom he was to have married？〃
He stared at her for a moment in sheer surprise。 〃Was to have
married？〃 he repeated incredulously； dismayed almost。
〃You did not know that？〃
〃