按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
plunge the country into anarchy。 The thing he had feared was more
than ever on the point of taking place。 He would go on at once；
that very night； and see for himself what was happening。
And then； as he was leaving； he turned again to Rougane to ask if
M。 de Kercadiou was still at Meudon。
〃You know him； monsieur？〃
〃He is my godfather。〃
〃Your godfather！ And you a representative！ Why； then； you may be
the very man he needs。〃 And Rougane told him of his son's errand
into Paris that afternoon and its result。
No more was required。 That two years ago his godfather should upon
certain terms have refused him his house weighed for nothing at the
moment。 He left his travelling carriage at the little inn and went
straight to M。 de Kercadiou。
And M。 de Kercadiou； startled in such an hour by this sudden
apparition； of one against whom he nursed a bitter grievance；
greeted him in terms almost identical with those in which in that
same room he had greeted him on a similar occasion once before。
〃What do you want here； sir？〃
〃To serve you if possible； my godfather；〃 was the disarming answer。
But it did not disarm M。 de Kercadiou。 〃You have stayed away so
long that I hoped you would not again disturb me。〃
〃I should not have ventured to disobey you now were it not for the
hope that I can be of service。 I have seen Rougane； the mayor。。。 〃
〃What's that you say about not venturing to disobey？〃
〃You forbade me your house； monsieur。〃
M。 de Kercadiou stared at him helplessly。
〃And is that why you have not come near me in all this time？〃
〃Of course。 Why else？〃
M。 de Kercadiou continued to stare。 Then he swore under his breath。
It disconcerted him to have to deal with a man who insisted upon
taking him so literally。 He had expected that Andre…Louis would
have come contritely to admit his fault and beg to be taken back
into favour。 He said so。
〃But how could I hope that you meant less than you said； monsieur？
You were so very definite in your declaration。 What expressions of
contrition could have served me without a purpose of amendment？
And I had no notion of amending。 We may yet be thankful for that。〃
〃Thankful？〃
〃I am a representative。 I have certain powers。 I am very
opportunely returning to Paris。 Can I serve you where Rougane
cannot？ The need； monsieur； would appear to be very urgent if the
half of what I suspect is true。 Aline should be placed in safety
at once。〃
M。 de Kercadiou surrendered unconditionally。 He came over and took
Andre…Louis' hand。
〃My boy；〃 he said； and he was visibly moved； 〃there is in you a
certain nobility that is not to be denied。 If I seemed harsh with
you； then； it was because I was fighting against your evil
proclivities。 I desired to keep you out of the evil path of
politics that have brought this unfortunate country into so terrible
a pass。 The enemy on the frontier； civil war about to flame out at
home。 That is what you revolution。 aries have done。〃
Andre…Louis did not argue。 He passed on。
〃About Aline？〃 he asked。 And himself answered his own question：
〃She is in Paris； and she must be brought out of it at once； before
the place becomes a shambles； as well it may once the passions that
have been brewing all these months are let loose。 Young Rougane's
plan is good。 At least； I cannot think of a better one。〃
〃But Rougane the elder will not hear of it。〃
〃You mean he will not do it on his own responsibility。 But he has
consented to do it on mine。 I have left him a note over my signature
to the effect that a safe…conduct for Mlle。 de Kercadiou to go to
Paris and return is issued by him in compliance with orders from me。
The powers I carry and of which I have satisfied him are his
sufficient justification for obeying me in this。 I have left him
that note on the understanding that he is to use it only in an
extreme case； for his own protection。 In exchange he has given me
this safe…conduct。〃
〃You already have it！〃
M。 de Kercadiou took the sheet of paper that Andre…Louis held out。
His hand shook。 He approached it to the cluster of candles burning
on the console and screwed up his short…sighted eyes to read。
〃If you send that to Paris by young Rougane in the morning；〃 said
Andre…Louis； 〃Aline should be here by noon。 Nothing； of course；
could be done to…night without provoking suspicion。 The hour is
too late。 And now； monsieur my godfather； you know exactly why I
intrude in violation of your commands。 If there is any other way
in which I can serve you； you have but to name it whilst I am here。〃
〃But there is； Andre。 Did not Rougane tell you that there were
others。。。 〃
〃He mentioned Mme。 de Plougastel and her servant。〃
〃Then why。。。 ？〃 M。 de Kercadiou broke off； looking his question。
Very solemnly Andre…Louis shook his head。
〃That is impossible；〃 he said。
M。 de Kercadiou's mouth fell open in astonishment。 〃Impossible！〃
he repeated。 〃But why？〃
〃Monsieur； I can do what I am doing for Aline without offending my
conscience。 Besides； for Aline I would offend my conscience and do
it。 But Mme。 de Plougastel is in very different case。 Neither Aline
nor any of hers have been concerned in counter…revolutionary work；
which is the true source of the calamity that now threatens to
overtake us。 I can procure her removal from Paris without
self…reproach； convinced that I am doing nothing that any one could
censure； or that might become the subject of enquiries。 But Mme。 de
Plougastel is the wife of M。 le Comte de Plougastel； whom all the
world knows to be an agent between the Court and the emigres。〃
〃That is no fault of hers；〃 cried M。 de Kercadiou through his
consternation。
〃Agreed。 But she may be called upon at any moment to establish the
fact that she is not a party to these manoeuvres。 It is known that
she was in Paris to…day。 Should she be sought to…morrow and should
it be found that she has gone； enquiries will certainly be made；
from which it must result that I have betrayed my trust； and abused
my powers to serve personal ends。 I hope； monsieur； that you will
understand that the risk is too great to be run for the sake of a
stranger。〃
〃A stranger？〃 said the Seigneur reproachfully。
〃Practically a stranger to me；〃 said Andre…Louis。
〃But she is not a stranger to me； Andre。 She is my cousin and very
dear and valued friend。 And； mon Dieu； what you say but increases
the urgency of getting her out of Paris。 She must be rescued； Andre；
at all costs … she must be rescued！ Why； her case is infinitely
more urgent than Aline's！〃
He stood a suppliant before his godson； very different now from the
stern man who had greeted him on his arrival。 His face was pale；
his hands shook； and there were beads of perspiration on his brow。
〃Monsieur my godfather； I would do anything in reason。 But I cannot
do this。 To rescue her might mean ruin for Aline and yourself as
well as for me。〃
〃We must take the risk。〃
〃You have a right to speak for yourself； of course。〃
〃Oh； and for you； believe me； Andre； for you！〃 He came close to
the young man。 〃Andre； I implore you to take my word for that； and
to obtai