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that had overtaken her upon seeing him wounded。
〃My God！〃 he cried aloud。 〃What must she have suffered； then； if
I had killed him as I intended！〃
If only she had used candour with him； she could so easily have won
his consent to the thing she asked。 If only she had told him what
now he saw； that she loved M。 de La Tour d'Azyr； instead of leaving
him to assume her only regard for the Marquis to be based on
unworthy worldly ambition； he would at once have yielded。
He fetched a sigh； and breathed a prayer for forgiveness to the
shade of Vilmorin。
〃It is perhaps as well that my lunge went wide；〃 he said。
〃What do you mean？〃 wondered Le Chapelier。
〃That in this business I must relinquish all hope of recommencing。〃
CHAPTER XII
THE OVERWHELMING REASON
M。 de La Tour d'Azyr was seen no more in the Manege … or indeed in
Paris at all … throughout all the months that the National Assembly
remained in session to complete its work of providing France with
a constitution。 After all； though the wound to his body had been
comparatively slight； the wound to such a pride as his had been
all but mortal。
The rumour ran that he had emigrated。 But that was only half the
truth。 The whole of it was that he had joined that group of noble
travellers who came and went between the Tuileries and the
headquarters of the emigres at Coblenz。 He became； in short； a
member of the royalist secret service that in the end was to bring
down the monarchy in ruins。
As for Andre…Louis； his godfather's house saw him no more； as a
result of his conviction that M。 de Kercadiou would not relent from
his written resolve never to receive him again if the duel were
fought。
He threw himself into his duties at the Assembly with such zeal and
effect that when … its purpose accomplished … the Constituent was
dissolved in September of the following year； membership of the
Legislative； whose election followed immediately； was thrust upon
him。
He considered then； like many others； that the Revolution was a
thing accomplished； that France had only to govern herself by the
Constitution which had been given her； and that all would now be
well。 And so it might have been but that the Court could not bring
itself to accept the altered state of things。 As a result of its
intrigues half Europe was arming to hurl herself upon France； and
her quarrel was the quarrel of the French King with his people。
That was the horror at the root of all the horrors that were to come。
Of the counter…revolutionary troubles that were everywhere being
stirred up by the clergy； none were more acute than those of Brittany；
and； in view of the influence it was hoped he would wield in his
native province； it was proposed to Andre…Louis by the Commission of
Twelve； in the early days of the Girondin ministry； that he should
go thither to combat the unrest。 He was desired to proceed
peacefully； but his powers were almost absolute； as is shown by the
orders he carried … orders enjoining all to render him assistance
and warning those who might hinder him that they would do so at
their peril。
He accepted the task； and he was one of the five plenipotentiaries
despatched on the same errand in that spring of 1792。 It kept him
absent from Paris for four months and might have kept him longer
but that at the beginning of August he was recalled。 More imminent
than any trouble in Brittany was the trouble brewing in Paris itself；
when the political sky was blacker than it had been since '89。
Paris realized that the hour was rapidly approaching which would
see the climax of the long struggle between Equality and Privilege。
And it was towards a city so disposed that Andre…Louis came speeding
from the West； to find there also the climax of his own disturbed
career。
Mlle。 de Kercadiou； too； was in Paris in those days of early August；
on a visit to her uncle's cousin and dearest friend； Mme。 de
Plougastel。 And although nothing could now be plainer than the
seething unrest that heralded the explosion to come； yet the air of
gaiety； indeed of jocularity； prevailing at Court … whither madame
and mademoiselle went almost daily … reassured them。 M。 de
Plougastel had come and gone again； back to Coblenz on that secret
business that kept him now almost constantly absent from his wife。
But whilst with her he had positively assured her that all measures
were taken； and that an insurrection was a thing to be welcomed；
because it could have one only conclusion； the final crushing of
the Revolution in the courtyard of the Tuileries。 That； he added；
was why the King remained in Paris。 But for his confidence in that
he would put himself in the centre of his Swiss and his knights of
the dagger； and quit the capital。 They would hack a way out for
him easily if his departure were opposed。 But not even that would
be necessary。
Yet in those early days of August； after her husband's departure
the effect of his inspiring words was gradually dissipated by the
march of events under madame's own eyes。 And finally on the
afternoon of the ninth； there arrived at the Hotel Plougastel a
messenger from Meudon bearing a note from M。 de Kercadiou in
which he urgently bade mademoiselle join him there at once； and
advised her hostess to accompany her。
You may have realized that M。 de Kercadiou was of those who make
friends with men of all classes。 His ancient lineage placed him
on terms of equality with members of the noblesse； his simple
manners … something between the rustic and the bourgeois … and his
natural affability placed him on equally good terms with those who
by birth were his inferiors。 In Meudon he was known and esteemed
of all the simple folk； and it was Rougane； the friendly mayor；
who； informed on the 9th of August of the storm that was brewing
for the morrow； and knowing of mademoiselle's absence in Paris；
had warningly advised him to withdraw her from what in the next
four…and…twenty hours might be a zone of danger for all persons
of quality； particularly those suspected of connections with the
Court party。
Now there was no doubt whatever of Mme。 de Plougastel's connection
with the Court。 It was not even to be doubted … indeed； measure of
proof of it was to be forthcoming … that those vigilant and
ubiquitous secret societies that watched over the cradle of the
young revolution were fully informed of the frequent journeyings of
M。 de Plougastel to Coblenz； and entertained no illusions on the
score of the reason for them。 Given； then； a defeat of the Court
party in the struggle that was preparing； the position in Paris of
Mme。 de Plougastel could not be other than fraught with danger； and
that danger would be shared by any guest of birth at her hotel。
M。 de Kercadiou's affection for both those women quickened the fears
aroused in him by Rougane's warning。 Hence that hastily dispatched
note； desiring his niece and imploring his friend to come at once
to Meudon。
The friendly mayor carried his complaisance a step farther； and
dispatched the letter to Paris by the hands of his own son； an
intelligent lad of nineteen。 It was late in the afternoon of that
perfect Augu