Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-16
CHAPTER X. THE ARREST,


 So 1t had come! And come in such a fashion that saw no way of escape. The sergeant was between us and could not strike him. And found no words. A score of times had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to mademoiselle, what 1 should say and how she would take it. But in my mind it had always been a voluntary act this disclosure It had been always who had unmasked my self. and she who listened-alone and In this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which seemed to take from the shame of an- ticipation. But here-here was no vol mntary act on my own part, no privacy, nothing but shame. I stood mute. convicted, speechless-like the. thing was.
 Yet if anything could have 5raced me, it was mademoiselle's voice, when she answered him. Go on, Monsieur" she said, with the perfect calmness of scorn. "You will have done the soon CT" r
 You dc not believe mel" he replied hotl5. "Then, I say, look at himi Look at him! If ever shame 4
 Monsieur" she said abruptly-she did not look at me. q am ashamed myself" e4 ..,
 ss"Why, his very name is not his own!" the lieutenant rejoined ierkily. ,"He is no Barthe at all. He is Berault the gambler, the duellist, the bully" 5Again she interrupted him. '1 know it." she said coldly s'I know it all. And if you have nothing more to tell me, go, Monsieur Col" she continued, in a tone of infinite scorns Enough that you have earned my contempt as well as my abhorrence," a-.a- He looked for moment taken aback. Then. "Ay, but have more!" he cried, his voice stubbornly. triumphanty @I forgot that you would think little of that! forgot that swordsman has always the ladies' hearts. But I have more. Do you know, too, that he is in the cardinals pay? Do you know that he is here on the same errand which brings us hereto arrest M. de Cocheforet? Do you sklowithat while we go about the business openly and in soldier fashion, it is his part to worm himself into your confidence, to sneak into madam's intimacy, to listen at your door, or to follow your footsteps, to hang on your lips, to track you-track you until you betray yourselves and the man? Do you know this, and that all his sympathy iS.a lie, Mademoiselle?ssH His help, so ffiuch bait to catch the secret? His aim. blood -money-blood-m Why, morbleu!" the lieutenant continued, poin ting his finger at me, and so car ried away by passion. so lifted out of himself by wrath and indignation, that in spite of myself shrank before him --"you talk, lady, of contempt and ab- horrence in the same breath with me! But what have yougfer him? What have you for him, -thes spy, the in- former, the hired traitor? And if you doubt. if you want evidence. look at him. Only look at him. say!'
 And he might we'll say 1t! For I stood silent still; covering and des- pairing. white with rage and hate But mademoiselIe did not look, She gazed straight atg ghe 8 5lieutenant. "Have you done?" she said.
 'Done?" he stammered. Her words, her air, brought him to earth again. 'Done? Yes, if you believe me"
 'T do not" she answered proudly. If that be all, be satisfied, Monsieur. I do not believe you"
 Then tell me" he retorted. after moment of stunned surprise, why, if he was not on our side. do you think we let him remain here. Why did we suffer him to stay in a suspected house bullying us and taking your part from hour to hour?"
 ''He has a sword. Monsieur" she an- swered. with fine contempt.
 ''Mille diables!" he cried. snapping his fingers in a rage. That for his swordi No It was because he held the cardinals commission; because he had equal authority with us; because we had no choice"
 And that being SO. Monsieur. why are you now betraying him?" she asked keenly.
 He swore at that. feeling the stroke go home. You must be mad. he said gIaring at her. Mad. if you cannot see that the man is what I tell you he is. Look at him, Listen to him! Has he a word to say for himself?"
 Still she did not look "It is late. p che replied. coldly and irreleyantly. And I am not very we'll If you have quite done. perhaps you will leave me Monsieur"
 Mon dieu," he exclaimed. shrugging his shoulders: you are mad, ! have told you the truth and you will not be- Rsve it. Well. on your head be # then, lsadenoiselle. I have no more 10 say. But you will sec
 He looked at her for a moment as if he thought that she might still give way: then he saluted her roughly. gave the word tc the sergeant. turned and went down the path The sergeant went after him. the Ianthorn swsying in his hand We two were left alone in the gIocm. The frogs were croak- Ing in the pool: the house. the garden. the wood-all lay quiet under the dark ness aS on the night when first csne to the chateau