scaramouche-第72章
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is to give me hope； mademoiselle。 If already I possess so much；
I may look with confidence to win more。 I shall prove myself
worthy。 I swear to do that。 Who that is permitted the privilege
of being near you could do other than seek to render himself
worthy？〃
And then before she could add a word； M。 de Kercadiou came
blustering through the window； his spectacles on his forehead； his
face inflamed； waving in his hand 〃The Acts of the Apostles；〃 and
apparently reduced to speechlessness。
Had the Marquis expressed himself aloud he would have been profane。
As it was he bit his lip in vexation at this most inopportune
interruption。
Aline sprang up； alarmed by her uncle's agitation。
〃What has happened？〃
〃Happened？〃 He found speech at last。 〃The scoundrel！ The
faithless dog！ I consented to overlook the past on the clear
condition that he should avoid revolutionary politics in future。
That condition he accepted； and now〃 … he smacked the news…sheet
furiously … 〃he has played me false again。 Not only has he gone
into politics； once more； but he is actually a member of the
Assembly； and what is worse he has been using his assassin's
skill as a fencing…master； turning himself into a bully…swordsman。
My God Is there any law at all left in France？〃
One doubt M。 de La Tour d'Azyr had entertained； though only
faintly； to mar the perfect serenity of his growing optimism。
That doubt concerned this man Moreau and his relations with M。
de Kercadiou。 He knew what once they had been； and how changed
they subsequently were by the ingratitude of Moreau's own
behavior in turning against the class to which his benefactor
belonged。 What he did not know was that a reconciliation had
been effected。 For in the past month … ever since circumstances
had driven Andre…Louis to depart from his undertaking to steer
clear of politics … the young man had not ventured to approach
Meudon； and as it happened his name had pot been mentioned in La
Tour d'Azyr's hearing on the occasion of either of his own previous
visits。 He learnt of that reconciliation now； but he learnt at
the same time that the breach was now renewed； and rendered wider
and more impassable than ever。 Therefore he did not hesitate to
avow his own position。
〃There is a law；〃 he answered。 〃The law that this rash young man
himself evokes。 The law of the sword。〃 He spoke very gravely；
almost sadly。 For he realized that after all the ground was tender。
〃You are not to suppose that he is to continue indefinitely his
career of evil and of murder。 Sooner or later he will meet a
sword that will avenge the others。 You have observed that my
cousin Chabrillane is among the number of this assassin's victims；
that he was killed on Tuesday last。〃
〃If I have not expressed my condolence； Azyr； it is because my
indignation stifles at the moment every other feeling。 The
scoundrel！ You say that sooner or later he will meet a sword that
will avenge the others。 I pray that it may be soon。〃
The Marquis answered him quietly； without anything but sorrow in
his voice。 〃I think your prayer is likely to be heard。 This
wretched young man has an engagement for to…morrow； when his
account may be definitely settled。〃
He spoke with such calm conviction that his words had all the sound
of a sentence of death。 They suddenly stemmed the flow of M。 de
Kercadiou's anger。 The colour receded from his inflamed face；
dread looked out of his pale eyes； to inform M。 de La Tour d'Azyr；
more clearly than any words； that M。 de Kercadiou's hot speech had
been the expression of unreflecting anger； that his prayer that
retribution might soon overtake his godson had been unconsciously
insincere。 Confronted now by the fact that this retribution was
about to be visited upon that scoundrel； the fundamental gentleness
and kindliness of his nature asserted itself； his anger was suddenly
whelmed in apprehension； his affection for the lad beat up to the
surface； making Andre…Louis' sin； however hideous； a thing of no
account by comparison with the threatened punishment。
M。 de Kercadiou moistened his lips。
〃With whom is this engagement？〃 he asked in a voice that by an
effort he contrived to render steady。
M。 de La Tour d'Azyr bowed his handsome head； his eyes upon the
gleaming parquetry of the floor。 〃With myself；〃 he answered quietly；
conscious already with a tightening of the heart that his answer
must sow dismay。 He caught the sound of a faint outcry from Aline；
he saw the sudden recoil of M。 de Kercadiou。 And then he plunged
headlong into the explanation that he deemed necessary。
〃In view of his relations with you； M。 de Kercadiou； and because
of my deep regard for you； I did my best to avoid this； even though
as you will understand the death of my dear friend and cousin
Chabrillane seemed to summon me to action； even though I knew that
my circumspection was becoming matter for criticism among my friends。
But yesterday this unbridled young man made further restraint
impossible to me。 He provoked me deliberately and publicly。 He
put upon me the very grossest affront； and。。。 to…morrow morning in
the Bois。。。 we meet。〃
He faltered a little at the end； fully conscious of the hostile
atmosphere in which he suddenly found himself。 Hostility from M。
de Kercadiou； the latter's earlier change of manner had already
led him to expect； the hostility of mademoiselle came more in the
nature of a surprise。
He began to understand what difficulties the course to which he
was committed must raise up for him。 A fresh obstacle was to be
flung across the path which he had just cleared； as he imagined。
Yet his pride and his sense of the justice due to be done admitted
of no weakening。
In bitterness he realized now； as he looked from uncle to niece
… his glance； usually so direct and bold； now oddly furtive … that
though to…morrow he might kill Andre…Louis； yet even by his death
Andre…Louis would take vengeance upon him。 He had exaggerated
nothing in reaching the conclusion that this Andre…Louis Moreau
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。。。 〃
