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Similarly Mme。 de Plougastel had never realized nor did she realize
now … for Aline did not trouble fully to enlighten her … that the
hostility between the two men was other than political； the quarrel
other than that which already had taken Andre…Louis to the Bois on
every day of the preceding week。 But； at least； she realized that
even if Andre…Louis' rancour should have no other source； yet that
inconclusive duel was cause enough for Aline's fears。
And so she had proposed this obvious deception； and Aline had
consented to be a passive party to it。 They had made the mistake
of not fully forewarning and persuading M。 de La Tour d'Azyr。 They
had trusted entirely to his anxiety to escape from Paris to keep
him rigidly within the part imposed upon him。 They had reckoned
without the queer sense of honour that moved such men as M。 le
Marquis； nurtured upon a code of shams。
Andre…Louis； turning to scan that muffled figure； advanced from
the dark depths of the salon。 As the light beat on his white；
lean face the pseudo…footman started。 The next moment he too
stepped forward into the light； and swept his broad…brimmed hat
from his brow。 As he did so Andre…Louis observed that his hand
was fine and white and that a jewel flashed from one of the
fingers。 Then he caught his breath； and stiffened in every line
as he recognized the face revealed to him。
〃Monsieur；〃 that stern； proud man was saying； 〃I cannot take
advantage of your ignorance。 If these ladies can persuade you to
save me； at least it is due to you that you shall know whom you
are saving。〃
He stood there by the table very erect and dignified； ready to
perish as he had lived … if perish he must … without fear and
without deception。
Andre…Louis came slowly forward until he reached the table on the
other side； and then at last the muscles of his set face relaxed；
and he laughed。
〃You laugh？〃 said M。 de La Tour dAzyr； frowning； offended。
〃It is so damnably amusing；〃 said Andre…Louis。
〃You've an odd sense of humour； M。 Moreau。〃
〃Oh； admitted。 The unexpected always moves me so。 I have found
you many things in the course of our acquaintance。 To…night you
are the one thing I never expected to find you： an honest man。〃
M。 de La Tour d'Azyr quivered。 But he attempted no reply。
〃Because of that； monsieur； I am disposed to be clement。 It is
probably a foolishness。 But you have surprised me into it。 I
give you three minutes； monsieur； in which to leave this house； and
to take your own measures for your safety。 What afterwards happens
to you shall be no concern of mine。
〃Ah； no； Andre！ Listen。。。 〃 Madame began in anguish。
〃Pardon； madame。 It is the utmost that I will do； and already I
am violating what I conceive to be my duty。 If M。 de La Tour d'Azyr
remains he not only ruins himself； but he imperils you。 For unless
he departs at once； he goes with me to the headquarters of the
section； and the section will have his head on a pike inside the
hour。 He is a notorious counter…revolutionary； a knight of the
dagger； one of those whom an exasperated populace is determined to
exterminate。 Now； monsieur； you know what awaits you。 Resolve
yourself and at once； for these ladies' sake。〃
〃But you don't know； Andre…Louis！〃 Mme。 de Plougastel's condition
was one of anguish indescribable。 She came to him and clutched his
arm。 〃For the love of Heaven； Andre…Louis； be merciful with him！
You must！〃
〃But that is what I am being； madame … merciful； more merciful than
he deserves。 And he knows it。 Fate has meddled most oddly in our
concerns to bring us together to…night。 Almost it is as if Fate
were forcing retribution at last upon him。 Yet； for your sakes； I
take no advantage of it； provided that he does at once as I have
desired him。〃
And now from beyond the table the Marquis spoke icily； and as he
spoke his right hand stirred under the ample folds of his greatcoat。
〃I am glad； M。 Moreau； that you take that tone with me。 You relieve
me of the last scruple。 You spoke of Fate just now； and I must
agree with you that Fate has meddled oddly； though perhaps not to
the end that you discern。 For years now you have chosen to stand
in my path and thwart me at every turn； holding over me a perpetual
menace。 Persistently you have sought my life in various ways； first
indirectly and at last directly。 Your intervention in my affairs
has ruined my highest hopes … more effectively； perhaps； than you
suppose。 Throughout you have been my evil genius。 And you are even
one of the agents of this climax of despair that has been reached
by me to…night。〃
〃Wait！ Listen！〃 Madame was panting。 She flung away from
Andre…Louis； as if moved by some premonition of what was coming。
〃Gervais！ This is horrible！〃
〃Horrible； perhaps； but inevitable。 Himself he has invited it。 I
am a man in despair； the fugitive of a lost cause。 That man holds
the keys of escape。 And； besides； between him and me there is a
reckoning to be paid。〃
His hand came from beneath the coat at last； and it came armed with
a pistol。
Mme。 de Plougastel screamed； and flung herself upon him。 On her
knees now； she clung to his arm with all her strength and might。
Vainly he sought to shake himself free of that desperate clutch。
〃Therese！〃 he cried。 〃Are you mad？ Will you destroy me and
yourself？ This creature has the safe…conducts that mean our
salvation。 Himself； he is nothing。〃
》From the background Aline； a breathless； horror…stricken spectator
of that scene； spoke sharply； her quick mind pointing out the
line of checkmate。
〃Burn the safe…conducts； Andre…Louis。 Burn them at once … in the
candles there。〃
But Andre…Louis had taken advantage of that moment of M。 de La Tour
d'Azyr's impotence to draw a pistol in his turn。 〃T think it will
be better to burn his brains instead；〃 he said。 〃Stand away from
him； madame。〃
Far from obeying that imperious command； Mme。 de Plougastel rose
to her feet to cover the Marquis with her body。 But she still
clung to his arm； clung to it with unsuspected strength that
continued to prevent him from attempting to use the pistol。
〃Andre！ For God's sake； Andre！〃 she panted hoarsely over her
shoulder。
〃Stand away； madame；〃 he commanded her again； more sternly； 〃and
let this murderer take his due。 He is jeopardizing all our lives；
and his own has been forfeit these years。 Stand away！〃 He sprang
forward with intent now to fire at his enemy over her shoulder； and
Aline moved too late to hinder him。
〃Andre！ Andre！〃
Panting； gasping； haggard of face； on the verge almost of hysteria；
the distracted Countess flung at last an effective； a terrible
barrier between the hatred of those men； each intent upon taking
the other's life。
〃He is your father； Andre！ Gervais； he is your son … our son！ The
letter there。。。 on the table。。。 0 my God！〃 And she slipped
nervelessly to the ground； and crouched there sobbing at the feet
of M。 de La Tour d'Azyr。
CHAPTER XV
SAFE…CONDUCT
Across the body of that convulsively sobbing woman； the mother of
one and the mistress of the other； the eyes of those mortal enemies
met； investe