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the young man。 〃Andre； I implore you to take my word for that； and
to obtain this permit for Mme。 de Plougastel。〃
Andre looked at him mystified。 〃This is fantastic；〃 he said。 〃I
have grateful memories of the lady's interest in me for a few days
once when I was a child； and again more recently in Paris when she
sought to convert me to what she accounts the true political
religion。 But I do not risk my neck for her … no； nor yours； nor
Aline's。〃
〃Ah！ But； Andre。。。 〃
〃That is my last word； monsieur。 It is growing late； and I desire
to sleep in Paris。〃
〃No； no！ Wait！〃 The Lord of Gavrillac was displaying signs of
unspeakable distress。 〃Andre； you must！〃
There was in this insistence and； still more； in the frenzied
manner of it； something so unreasonable that Andre could not fail
to assume that some dark and mysterious motive lay behind it。
〃I must？〃 he echoed。 〃Why must I？ Your reasons；monsieur？〃
〃Andre； my reasons are overwhelming。〃
〃Pray allow me to be the judge of that。〃 Andre…Louis' manner was
almost peremptory。
The demand seemed to reduce M。 de Kercadiou to despair。 He paced
the room； his hands tight…clasped behind him； his brow wrinkled。
At last he came to stand before his godson。
〃Can't you take my word for it that these reasons exist？〃 he cried
in anguish。
〃In such a matter as this … a matter that may involve my neck？ Oh；
monsieur； is that reasonable？〃
〃I violate my word of honour； my oath； if I tell you。〃 M。 de
Kercadiou turned away； wringing his hands； his condition visibly
piteous； then turned again to Andre。 〃But in this extremity； in
this desperate extremity； and since you so ungenerously insist； I
shall have to tell you。 God help me； I have no choice。 She will
realize that when she knows。 Andre； my boy。。。 〃 He paused again；
a man afraid。 He set a hand on his godson's shoulder； and to his
increasing amazement Andre…Louis perceived that over those pale；
short…sighted eyes there was a film of tears。 〃Mme。 de Plougastel
is your mother。〃
Followed； for a long moment； utter silence。 This thing that he was
told was not immediately understood。 When understanding came at
last Andre…Louis' first impulse was to cry out。 But he possessed
himself； and played the Stoic。 He must ever be playing something。
That was in his nature。 And he was true to his nature even in this
supreme moment。 He continued silent until； obeying that queer
histrionic instinct； he could trust himself to speak without emotion。
〃I see；〃 he said； at last； quite coolly。
His mind was sweeping back over the past。 Swiftly he reviewed his
memories of Mme。 de Plougastel； her singular if sporadic interest
in him； the curious blend of affection and wistfulness which her
manner towards him had always presented； and at last he understood
so much that hithert had intrigued him。
〃I see；〃 he said again； and added now； 〃Of course； any but a fool
would have guessed it long ago。〃
It was M。 de Kercadiou who cried out； M。 de Kercadiou who recoiled
as from a blow。
〃My God； Andre； of what are you made？ You can take such an
announcement in this fashion？〃。
〃And how would you have me take it？ Should it surprise me to
discover that I had a mother？ After all； a mother is an
indispensable necessity to getting one's self born。〃
He sat down abruptly； to conceal the too…revealing fact that his
limbs were shaking。 He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to
mop his brow； which had grown damp。 And then；quite suddenly； he
found himself weeping。
At the sight of those tears streaming silently down that face that
had turned so pale； M。 de Kercadiou came quickly across to him。 He
sat down beside him and threw an arm affectionately over his shoulder。
〃Andre； my poor lad；〃 he murmured。 〃I。。。 I was fool enough to think
ou had no heart。 You deceived me with your infernal pretence； and
now I see。。。 I see。。。 〃 He was not sure what it was that he saw； or
else he hesitated to express it。
〃I： is nothing； monsieur。 I am tired out； and。。。 and I have a cold
in the head。〃 And then； finding the part beyond his power； he
abruptly threw it up； utterly abandoned all pretence。 〃Why。。。 why
has there been all this mystery？〃 he asked。 〃Was it intended that
I should never know？〃
〃I： was； Andre。 It。。。 it had to be； for prudence' sake。〃
〃Eut why？ Complete your confidence； sir。 Surely you cannot leave
it there。 Having told me so much； you must tell me all。〃
〃'The reason； my boy； is that you were born some three years after
your mother's marriage with M。 de Plougastel； some eighteen months
after M。 de Plougastel had been away with the army； and some four
months before his return to his wife。 It is a matter that M。 de
Plougastel has never suspeted； and for gravest family reasons must
never suspect。 That is why the utmost secrecy has been preserved。
That is why none was ever allowed to know。 Your mother came betimes
into Brittany； and under an assumed name spent some months in the
village of Moreau。 It was while she was there that you were born。〃
Andre…Louis turned it over in his mind。 He had dried his tears。
And sat now rigid and collected。
〃When you say that none was ever allowed to know； you are telling
me； of course； that you； monsieur。。。 〃
〃Oh； mon Dieu； no！〃 The denial came in a violent outburst。 M。 de
Kercadiou sprang to his feet propelled from Andre's side by the
violence of his emotions。 It was as if the very suggestion filled
him with horror。 〃I was the only other one who knew。 But it is
not as you think； Andre。 You cannot imagine that I should lie to
you； that I should deny you if you were my son？〃
〃If you say that I am not； monsieur； that is sufficient。〃
〃You are not。 I was Therese's cousin and also； as she well knew；
her truest friend。 She knew that she could trust me； and it was
to me she came for help in her extremity。 Once； years before； I
would have married her。 But； of course； I am not the sort of man
a woman could love。 She trusted； however； to my love for her； and
I have kept her trust。〃
〃Then； who was my father？〃
〃I don't know。 She never told me。 It was her secret； and I did
not pry。 It is not in my nature； Andre。〃
Andre…Louis got up； and stood silently facing M。 de Kercadiou。
〃You believe me； Andre。〃
〃Naturally； monsieur； and I am sorry； I am sorry that I am not your
son。
M。 de Kercadiou gripped his godson's hand convulsively； and held
it a moment with no word spoken。 Then as they fell away from each
other again：
〃And now； what will you do； Andre？〃 he asked。 〃Now that you know？〃
Andre…Louis stood awhile。 considering； then broke into laughter。
The situation had its humours。 He explained them。
〃What difference should the knowledge make？ Is filial piety to be
called into existence by the mere announcement of relationship？ Am
I to risk my neck through lack of circumspection on behalf of a
mother so very circumspect that she had no intention of ever
revealing herself？ The discovery rests upon the merest chance；
upon a fall of the dice of Fate。 Is that to weigh with me？〃
〃The decision is with you； Andre。〃
〃Nay； it is beyond me。 Decide it