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cluster of candles in a massive silver candle branch placed on a
round marquetry table in the middle of the room … an island of light
in the surrounding gloom。
The timepiece on the overmantel chimed melodiously the hour of ten；
and then； startling in the suddenness with which it broke the
immediate silence； another sound vibrated through the house； and
brought madame to her feet； in a breathless mingling of hope and
dread。 Some one was knocking sharply on the door below。 Followed
moments of agonized suspense； culminating in the abrupt invasion of
the room by the footman Jacques。 He looked round； not seeing his
mistress at first。
〃Madame！ Madame！〃 he panted； out of breath。
〃What is it； Jacques！〃 Her voice was steady now that the need for
self…control seemed thrust upon her。 She advanced from the shadows
into that island of light about the table。 〃There is a man below。
He is asking。。。 he is demanding to see you at once。〃
〃A man？〃 she questioned。
〃He。。。 he seems to be an official； at least he wears the sash of
office。 And he refuses to give any name； he says that his name
would convey nothing to you。 He insists that he must see you in
person and at once。〃
〃An official？〃 said madame。
〃An official；〃 Jacques repeated。 〃I would not have admitted him；
but that he demanded it in the name of the Nation。 Madame； it is
for you to say what shall be done。 Robert is with me。 If you
wish it。。。 whatever it may be。。。 〃
〃My good Jacques； no； no。〃 She was perfectly composed。 If this
man intended evil； surely he would not come alone。 Conduct him to
me； and then beg Mlle。 de Kercadiou to join me if she is awake。〃
Jacques departed； himself partly reassured。 Madame seated herself
in the armchair by the table well within the light。 She smoothed
her dress with a mechanical hand。 If； as it would seem； her hopes
had been futile； so had her momentary fears。 A man on any but an
errand of peace would have brought some following with him； as she
had said。
The door opened again； and Jacques reappeared； after him； stepping
briskly past him； came a slight man in a wide…brimmed hat； adorned
by a tricolour cockade。 About the waist of an olive…green
riding…coat he wore a broad tricolour sash； a sword hung at his side。
He swept off his hat； and the candlelight glinted on the steel
buckle in front of it。 Madame found herself silently regarded by
a pair of large； dark eyes set in a lean； brown face； eyes that
were most singularly intent and searching。
She leaned forward； incredulity swept across her countenance。 Then
her eyes kindled； and the colour came creeping back into her pale
cheeks。 She rose suddenly。 She was trembling。
〃Andre…Louis！〃 she exclaimed。
CHAPTER XIV
THE BARRIER
That gift of laughter of his seemed utterly extinguished。 For once
there was no gleam of humour in those dark eyes； as they continued
to consider her with that queer stare of scrutiny。 And yet； though
his gaze was sombre； his thoughts were not。 With his cruelly true
mental vision which pierced through shams； and his capacity for
detached observation … which properly applied might have carried him
very far； indeed … he perceived the grotesqueness； the artificiality
of the emotion which in that moment he experienced； but by which he
refused to be possessed。 It sprang entirely from the consciousness
that she was his mother； as if； all things considered； the more or
less accidental fact that she had brought him into the world could
establish between them any real bond at this time of day！ The
motherhood that bears and forsakes is less than animal。 He had
considered this； he had been given ample leisure in which to consider
it during those long； turbulent hours in which he had been forced to
wait； because it would have been almost impossible to have won across
that seething city； and certainly unwise to have attempted so to do。
He had reached the conclusion that by consenting to go to her rescue
at such a time he stood committed to a piece of purely sentimental
quixotry。 The quittances which the Mayor of Meudon had exacted from
him before he would issue the necessary safe…conducts placed the
whole of his future； perhaps his very life； in jeopardy。 And he
had consented to do this not for the sake of a reality； but out of
regard for an idea … he who all his life had avoided the false lure
of worthless and hollow sentimentality。
Thus thought Andre…Louis as he considered her now so searchingly；
finding it； naturally enough； a matter of extraordinary interest to
look consciously upon his mother for the first time at the age of
eight…and…twenty。
》From her he looked at last at Jacques； who remained at attention；
waiting by the open door。
〃Could we be alone； madame？〃 he asked her。
She waved the footman away； and the door closed。 In agitated
silence； unquestioning； she waited for him to account for his
presence there at so extraordinary a time。
〃Rougane could not return；〃 he informed her shortly。 At M。 de
Kercadiou's request； I come instead。〃
〃You！ You are sent to rescue us！〃 The note of amazement in her
voice was stronger than that of het relief。
〃That； and to make your acquaintance； madame。〃
〃To make my acquaintance？ But what do you mean； Andre…Louis？〃
〃This letter from M。 de Kercadiou will tell you。〃 Intrigued by his
odd words and odder manner； she took the folded sheet。 She broke
the seal with shaking hands； and with shaking hands approached the
written page to the light。 Her eyes grew troubled as she read； the
shaking of her hands increased； and midway through that reading a
moan escaped her。 One glance that was almost terror she darted at
the slim； straight man standing so incredibly impassive upon the
edge of the light； and then she endeavoured to read on。 But the
crabbed characters of M。 de Kercadiou swam distortedly under her
eyes。 She could not read。 Besides； what could it matter what else
he said。 She had read enough。 The sheet fluttered from her hands
to the table； and out of a face that was like a face of wax； she
looked now with a wistfulness； a sadness indescribable； at
Andre…Louis。
〃And so you know； my child？〃 Her voice was stifled to a whisper。
〃I know； madame my mother。〃
The grimness； the subtle blend of merciless derision and reproach
in which it was uttered completely escaped her。 She cried out at
the new name。 For her in that moment time and the world stood
still。 Her peril there in Paris as the wife of an intriguer at
Coblenz was blotted out； together with every other consideration
… thrust out of a consciousness that could find room for nothing
else beside the fact that she stood acknowledged by her only son；
this child begotten in adultery； borne furtively and in shame in a
remote Brittany village eight…and…twenty years ago。 Not even a
thought for the betrayal of that inviolable secret； or the con…
sequences that might follow； could she spare in this supreme moment。
She took one or two faltering steps towards him； hesitating。 Then
she opened her arms。 Sobs suffocated her voice。
〃Won't you come to me； Andre…Louis？〃
A moment yet he stood hesitating