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〃But　of　importance　to　yourself；　monsieur；　or　to　me？〃

〃To　us　both；　I　hope；〃　he　answered　her；　a　world　of　meaning　in　his
fine；　ardent　eyes。

〃You　whet　my　curiosity；　monsieur；　and；　of　course；　I　am　a　dutiful
niece。　　It　follows　that　I　shall　be　honoured　to　receive　you。〃

〃Not　honoured；　mademoiselle；　you　will　confer　the　honour。　　To…morrow
at　this　hour；　then；　I　shall　have　the　felicity　to　wait　upon　you。〃

He　bowed　again；　and　again　he　bore　her　fingers　to　his　lips；　what　time
she　curtsied。　　Thereupon；　with　no　more　than　this　formal　breaking　of
the　ice；　they　parted。

She　was　a　little　breathless　now；　a　little　dazzled　by　the　beauty　of
the　man；　his　princely　air；　and　the　confidence　of　power　he　seemed　to
radiate。　　Involuntarily　almost；　she　contrasted　him　with　his　critic
　…　the　lean　and　impudent　Andre…Louis　in　his　plain　brown　coat　and
steel…buckled　shoes　…　and　she　felt　guilty　of　an　unpardonable　offence
in　having　permitted　even　one　word　of　that　presumptuous　criticism。
To…morrow　M。　le　Marquis　would　come　to　offer　her　a　great　position；　a
great　rank。　　And　already　she　had　derogated　from　the　increase　of
dignity　accruing　to　her　from　his　very　intention　to　translate　her　to
so　great　an　eminence。　　Not　again　would　she　suffer　it；　not　again
would　she　be　so　weak　and　childish　as　to　permit　Andre…Louis　to　utter
his　ribald　comments　upon　a　man　by　comparison　with　whom　he　was　no
better　than　a　lackey。

Thus　argued　vanity　and　ambition　with　her　better　self　and　to　her　vast
annoyance　her　better　self　would　not　admit　entire　conviction。

Meanwhile；　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　was　climbing　into　his　carriage。　　He
had　spoken　a　word　of　farewell　to　M。　de　Kercadiou；　and　he　had　also
had　a　word　for　M。　de　Vilmorin　in　reply　to　which　M。　de　Vilmorin　had
bowed　in　assenting　silence。　　The　carriage　rolled　away；　the　powdered
footman　in　blue…and…gold　very　stiff　behind　it；　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr
bowing　to　mademoiselle；　who　waved　to　him　in　answer。

Then　M。　de　Vilmorin　put　his　arm　through　that　of　Andre　Louis；　and　said
to　him；　〃Come；　Andre。〃

〃But　you'll　stay　to　dine；　both　of　you！〃　cried　the　hospitable　Lord
of　Gavrillac。　　〃We'll　drink　a　certain　toast；〃　he　added；　winking　an
eye　that　strayed　towards　mademoiselle；　who　was　approaching。　　He　had
no　subtleties；　good　soul　that　he　was。

M。　de　Vilmorin　deplored　an　appointment　that　prevented　him　doing
himself　the　honour。　　He　was　very　stiff　and　formal。

〃And　you；　Andre？〃

〃I？　　Oh；　I　share　the　appointment；　godfather；〃　he　lied；　〃and　I　have
a　superstition　against　toasts。〃　　He　had　no　wish　to　remain。　　He　was
angry　with　Aline　for　her　smiling　reception　of　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr
and　the　sordid　bargain　he　saw　her　set　on　making。　　He　was　suffering
from　the　loss　of　an　illusion。



CHAPTER　III

THE　ELOQUENCE　OF　M。　DE　VILMORIN


As　they　walked　down　the　hill　together；　it　was　now　M。　de　Vilmorin
who　was　silent　and　preoccupied；　Andre…Louis　who　was　talkative。　　He
had　chosen　Woman　as　a　subject　for　his　present　discourse。　　He　claimed
　…　quite　unjustifiably　…　to　have　discovered　Woman　that　morning；　and
the　things　he　had　to　say　of　the　sex　were　unflattering；　and
occasionally　almost　gross。　　M。　de　Vilmorin；　having　ascertained　the
subject；　did　not　listen。　　Singular　though　it　may　seem　in　a　young
French　abbe　of　his　day；　M。　de　Vilmorin　was　not　interested　in　Woman。
Poor　Philippe　was　in　several　ways　exceptional。　　Opposite　the　Breton
arme　…　the　inn　and　posting…house　at　the　entrance　of　the　village　of
Gavrillac　…　M。　de　Vilmorin　interrupted　his　companion　just　as　he　was
soaring　to　the　dizziest　heights　of　caustic　invective；　and
Andre…Louis；　restored　thereby　to　actualities；　observed　the　carriage
of　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　standing　before　the　door　of　the　hostelry。

〃I　don't　believe　you've　been　listening　to　me；〃　said　he。

〃Had　you　been　less　interested　in　what　you　were　saying；　you　might
have　observed　it　sooner　and　spared　your　breath。　　The　fact　is；　you
disappoint　me；　Andre。　　You　seem　to　have　forgotten　what　we　went　for。
I　have　an　appointment　here　with　M。　le　Marquis。　　He　desires　to　hear
me　further　in　the　matter。　　Up　there　at　Gavrillac　I　could　accomplish
nothing。　　The　time　was　ill…chosen　as　it　happened。　　But　I　have　hopes
of　M。　le　Marquis。〃

〃Hopes　of　what？〃

〃That　he　will　make　what　reparation　lies　in　his　power。　　Provide　for
the　widow　and　the　orphans。　　Why　else　should　he　desire　to　hear　me
further？〃

〃Unusual　condescension；〃　said　Andre…Louis；　and　quoted　〃Timeo　Danaos
et　dona　ferentes。〃

〃Why？〃　asked　Philippe。

〃Let　us　go　and　discover　…　unless　you　consider　that　I　shall　be　in
the　way。〃

Into　a　room　on　the　right；　rendered　private　to　M。　le　Marquis　for　so
long　as　he　should　elect　to　honour　it；　the　young　men　were　ushered　by
the　host。　　A　fire　of　logs　was　burning　brightly　at　the　room's　far
end；　and　by　this　sat　now　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　and　his　cousin；　the
Chevalier　de　Chabrillane。　　Both　rose　as　M。　de　Vilmorin　came　in。
Andre…Louis　following；　paused　to　close　the　door。

〃You　oblige　me　by　your　prompt　courtesy；　M。　de　Vilmorin；〃　said　the
Marquis；　but　in　a　tone　so　cold　as　to　belie　the　politeness　of　his
words。　　〃A　chair；　I　beg。　　Ah；　Moreau？〃　　The　note　was　frigidly
interrogative。　　〃He　accompanies　you；　monsieur？〃　he　asked。

〃If　you　please；　M。　le　Marquis。〃

〃Why　not？　　Find　yourself　a　seat；　Moreau。〃　　He　spoke　over　his　shoulder
as　to　a　lackey。

〃It　is　good　of　you；　monsieur；〃　said　Philippe；　〃to　have　offered　me
this　opportunity　of　continuing　the　subject　that　took　me　so
fruitlessly；　as　it　happens；　to　Gavrillac。〃

The　Marquis　crossed　his　legs；　and　held　one　of　his　fine　hands　to　the
blaze。　　He　replied；　without　troubling　to　turn　to　the　young　man；　who
was　slightly　behind　him。

〃The　goodness　of　my　request　we　will　leave　out　of　question　for　the
moment；〃　said　he；　darkly；　and　M。　de　Chabrillane　laughed。　　Andre…Louis
thought　him　easily　moved　to　mirth；　and　almost　envied　him　the　faculty。

〃But　I　am　grateful；〃　Philippe　insisted；　〃that　you　should　condescend
to　hear　me　plead　their　cause。

The　Marquis　stared　at　him　over　his　shoulder。　　〃Whose　cause？〃　quoth　he。

〃Why；　the　cause　of　the　widow　and　orphans　of　this　unfortunate　Mabey。〃

The　Marquis　looked　from　Vilmorin　to　the　Chevalier；　and　again　the
Chevalier　laughed；　slapping　his　leg　this　time。

〃I　think；〃　said　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr；　slowly；　〃that　we　are　at
cross…purposes。　　I　asked　you　to　come　here　because　the　Chateau　de
Gavrillac　was　hardly　a　suitable　place　in　which　to　carry　our
discussion　further；　and　because　I　hesitated　to　incommode　you　by
suggesting　that　you　should　come　all　the　way　to　Azyr。　　But　my　object
is　connected　with　certain　expressions　that　you　let　fall　up　there。
It　is　on　the　subject　of　those　expressions；　monsieur；　that　I　would
hear　you　further　…　if　you　will　honour　me。〃

Andre…Louis　began　to　apprehend　that　there　was　something　sinister　in
the　air。　　He　was　a　man　of　quick　intuitions；　quicker　far　than　those
of　M。　de　Vilmorin；　who　evinced　no　more　than　a　mild　surprise。

〃I　am　at　a　loss；　monsieur；〃　said　he。　　〃To　what　expressions　does
monsieur　allude？〃

〃It　seems；　monsieur；　that　I　must　refresh　your　memory。〃　　The　Marquis
crossed　his　legs；　and　swung　sideways　on　his　chair；　so　that　at　last
he　directly　faced　M。　de　Vilmorin。　　〃You　spoke；　monsieur　…　and　however
mistaken　you　may　have　been；　you　spoke　very　eloquently；　too　eloquently
almost；　it　seemed　to　me　…　of　the　infamy　of　such　a　deed　as　the　act　of
summary　justice　upon　this　thieving　fellow　Mabey；　or　whatever　his　name
may　be。　　Infamy　was　the　precise　word　you　used。　　You　did　not　retract
that　word　when　I　had　the　honour　to　inform　you　that　it　was　by　my　orders
that　my　gamekeeper　Benet　proceeded　as　he　did。〃

〃If；〃　said　M。　de　Vilmorin；　〃the　deed　was　infamous；　its　infamy　is　not
modified　by　the　rank；　however　exalted；　of　the　person　responsible。
Rather　is　it　aggravated。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　M。　le　Marquis；　and　drew　a　gold　snuffbox　from　his　pocket。
〃You　say；　'if　the　deed　was　infamous；'　monsieur。　　Am　I　to　understand
that　you　are　no　longer　as　convinced　as　you　appeared　to　be　of　its
infamy？〃

M。　de　Vilmorin's　fine　face　wore　a　look　of　perplexity。　　He　did　not
understand　the　drift　of　this。

〃It　occurs　to　me；　M。　le　Marquis；　in　view　of　your　readiness　to　assume
responsibility；　that　you　must　believe　justification　for　the　deed
which　is　not　apparent　to　myself。〃

〃That　is　better。　　That　is　distinctly　better。〃　　The　Marquis　took
snuff　delicately；　dusting　the　fragments　from　the　fine　lace　at　his
throat。　　〃You　realize　that　with　an　imperfect　understanding　of　these
matters；　not　being　yourself　a　landowner；　you　may　have　rushed　to
unjustifiable　conclusions。　　That　is　indeed　the　case。　　May　it　be　a
warning　to　you；　monsieur。　　When　I　tell　you　that　for　months　past　I
have　been　annoyed　by　similar　depredations；　you　will　perhaps
understand　that　it　had　become　necessary　to　employ　a　deterrent
sufficiently　strong　to　put　an　end　to　them。　Now　that　the　risk　is
known；　I　do　not　think　there　will　be　any　more　prowling　in　my　coverts。
And　there　is　more　in　it　than　that；　M。　de　Vilmorin。　　It　is　not　the
poaching　that　annoys　me　so　much　as　the　contempt　for　my　absolute　and
inviolable　rights。　　There　is；　monsieur；　as　you　cannot　fail　to　have
observed；　an　evil　spirit　of　insubordination　in　the　air；　and　there
is　one　only　way　in　which　to　meet　it。　　To　tolerate　it；　in　however
sl