Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-06-06
CHAPTER x.
THE ARREST.


could not strike him. And I found M
words. A score of times had though
with shrinking how I should revea
my secret to mademoiselle, what
should say and how she would take it
But in my mind it had always been {
voluntary act, this disclosure. It hai
been always who had unmasked my
self, and she who listened-alone; an6
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
untary act on my own part, no privacy
nothing but shame. I stood mute
convicted, speechless-like the thing
was.
Yet if anything could have braced
me, it was mademoiselles voice, when
she answered him. Go on, Monsieur, u
she said, with the perfect calmness OF
scorn. "You will have done the soon
err
You do not believe me?" he replied
]otly. Then, l say, look at him!
Look at him! If ever shame"
"Monsieur! she said abruptly-she
cid not look at me. II am ashamed
myself"
"Why. his very name is not his
own!' the lieutenant rejoined jerkily.
He is no Barthe at all. He is Berault
the gambler, the duellist, the bully
Again she interrupted him. 81 know
IT, she said coldly. II know it all.
And if you have nothing more to tell
sne, go, Monsieur. Co." she continued.
in tone of infinite scorn. Enough
that you have earned my contempt
as well as my abhorrence!"
He looked for moment taken aback
Then, LAY, but have more!" he cried.
his voice stubbornly triumphant. 81
forgot that you would think little of
that! l forgot that swordsman has
always the ladies' hearts. But 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 NJ. de
Cocheforet? Do you know that while
We 90 about the business openly and
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 lie, Mademoiselle? His help, so
much bait to catch the secret? His
aim, Observation-Disclosures? Why,
morbleu!" the lieutenant continued,
pointing 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 alb
horrence in the same breath with me!
But what have YOU for him? What
have you for him, the spy, tho in
former, the hired traitor? And If you
doubt, if you want evidence, look at
him. Only look at him, ysay!'
And he might we'll say it! For I
stood silent still; covering and des-
pairing, white with rage and hate.
But mademoiselle did not look. She
gazed straight at the lieutenant.
Have you done?" she said.
"Done?" he stammered. Her words,
her air, brought him to earth again.
Done? Yes, If you believe me-"
II do not" she answered proudly.
IF that be all, be satisfied, Monsieur.
do not believe YOU"
"Then tell me-" he retorted, after
q moment of stunned surprise, "why,
II he was not on our side, do you think
We let him remain here. Why did we
suffer him to stay in suspected house
bullying us and taking your part from
hour, to hour?''
He has sword, Monsieur" she an
swered. with fine contempt.
Mile diables!" he cried, swapping
his fingers in rage "That for his
sword! No. 1t was because he held
the cardinals commission; because he
had equal authority with us; because
we had no choice"
sand that being so, Monsieur, why
are you now betraying him." she
asked keenly.
He swore at that, feeling the STROKE
60 home. "You must be mad" he said.
glazing 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 word to say for HIMSELF"
Still she did not look. 1T is late"
she replied, coldly and irrelevantly.
"And I am not very well. If you have
quite done, perhaps you will leave me
Monsieur"
mon dieu!" he exclaimed, struggling
his shoulders; "you are mad! I have
told you the truth and you will not be-
lieve it. Well, on your head be 1t then,
Mademoiselle. I have no more to say.
But you will see.''
He looked at her for a moment as il
he thought that she might still give
way; then he saluted her roughly, gave
the word to the sergeant, turned and
went down the path The sergeant
went after him, the 1antLorn swaying
In his hand. We two were left alone
in the gloom. 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 I first
came to tie chateau. \
And would to Heaven I had never
come! That was the cry in my heart.
Would to Heaven had never seen this
woman, whose nobility and faith and
singleness were continual shame to
me; a reproach, branding me every
hour l stood in her presence, with all
oil M Aot0 f,,1 MI