d down to
her. It was a hopeless passion, yet its hopelessness had no power to
kill it, rather it grew each day, took stronger possession of his dreams
each night, until, reaching forward, he conceived the possibility of
winning what his soul desired. That poor student was Raymond Latour. You
see, mademoiselle, when you think of me as a red republican, you hardly
do me full justice."
Jeanne did not answer. What possible answer was there to such a
confession as this?
"Deputy Latour became a power," he went on quietly. "Many things became
possible. Mademoiselle had a lover, Lucien Bruslart, a villain, a liar
to her and his country. Raymond Latour, with all his faults, was a
better man than he, more honest, more worthy a woman's regard, no matter
who that woman might be."
He paused for a moment, but still she found no words to answer him.
"This Bruslart for some purpose of his own sent for mademoiselle to come
to Paris. I discovered that he had done so. It was an opportunity to
show you what sort of a man he was whom you loved. I should have balked
his intention and brought you here, had it not been for the bungling of
those who served me, and the courage of this man Barrington who has
played Bruslart's game for him."
"Unwittingly," said Jeanne. "I grant that Lucien Bruslart is not a
worthy man; you must not class the other with him." In a few words
Jeanne told him how she had written the letter, how Richard Barrington
came to know where she was hidden.
"Is it not a further proof against Bruslart? And to me there is still no
actual proof of Barrington's honor," Latour went on quickly, as though
he were afraid something would happen to prevent his speaking. "Listen,
mademoiselle, this room was prepared for you long before you came, a
safe retreat. Would any one think of seeking an aristocrat close to a
hater of aristocrats? I have thought of everything, planned everything.
The power I have I lay at your feet, now, at this moment. At your word I
will become anything you wish. Without you, without the hope of you,
nothing is of value to me. With you, there is nothing in the world
impossible. France is not the only land. Paris is not the world. There
are fairer places on God's earth where men and women may live at peace.
I have papers which shall make it easy for us to pass the barriers,
which shall bring us safely to the sea. I worship you, words can tell
you nothing of that worship, you shall learn it day by day
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