ademoiselle. If already I possess so much, I may look
with confidence to win more. I shall prove myself worthy. I swear to
do that. Who that is permitted the privilege of being near you could do
other than seek to render himself worthy?"

And then before she could add a word, M. de Kercadiou came blustering
through the window, his spectacles on his forehead, his face inflamed,
waving in his hand "The Acts of the Apostles," and apparently reduced to
speechlessness.

Had the Marquis expressed himself aloud he would have been profane. As
it was he bit his lip in vexation at this most inopportune interruption.

Aline sprang up, alarmed by her uncle's agitation.

"What has happened?"

"Happened?" He found speech at last. "The scoundrel! The faithless dog!
I consented to overlook the past on the clear condition that he should
avoid revolutionary politics in future. That condition he accepted, and
now"--he smacked the news-sheet furiously--"he has played me false again.
Not only has he gone into politics, once more, but he is actually
a member of the Assembly, and what is worse he has been using
his assassin's skill as a fencing-master, turning himself into a
bully-swordsman. My God! Is there any law at all left in France?"

One doubt M. de La Tour d'Azyr had entertained, though only faintly, to
mar the perfect serenity of his growing optimism. That doubt concerned
this man Moreau and his relations with M. de Kercadiou. He knew what
once they had been, and how changed they subsequently were by the
ingratitude of Moreau's own behavior in turning against the class
to which his benefactor belonged. What he did not know was that a
reconciliation had been effected. For in the past month--ever since
circumstances had driven Andre-Louis to depart from his undertaking
to steer clear of politics--the young man had not ventured to approach
Meudon, and as it happened his name had not been mentioned in La Tour
d'Azyr's hearing on the occasion of either of his own previous visits.
He learnt of that reconciliation now; but he learnt at the same time
that the breach was now renewed, and rendered wider and more impassable
than ever. Therefore he did not hesitate to avow his own position.

"There is a law," he answered. "The law that this rash young man himself
evokes. The law of the sword." He spoke very gravely, almost sadly.
For he realized that after all the ground was tender. "You are not to
suppose that he is to continue indefinit