thing of his real interest in
her, and therefore had appeared no more than natural in one who must
account himself the cause of her distress. Similarly Mme. de Plougastel
had never realized nor did she realize now--for Aline did not trouble
fully to enlighten her--that the hostility between the two men was other
than political, the quarrel other than that which already had taken
Andre-Louis to the Bois on every day of the preceding week. But, at
least, she realized that even if Andre-Louis' rancour should have no
other source, yet that inconclusive duel was cause enough for Aline's
fears.

And so she had proposed this obvious deception; and Aline had consented
to be a passive party to it. They had made the mistake of not fully
forewarning and persuading M. de La Tour d'Azyr. They had trusted
entirely to his anxiety to escape from Paris to keep him rigidly within
the part imposed upon him. They had reckoned without the queer sense
of honour that moved such men as M. le Marquis, nurtured upon a code of
shams.

Andre-Louis, turning to scan that muffled figure, advanced from the
dark depths of the salon. As the light beat on his white, lean face the
pseudo-footman started. The next moment he too stepped forward into
the light, and swept his broad-brimmed hat from his brow. As he did so
Andre-Louis observed that his hand was fine and white and that a
jewel flashed from one of the fingers. Then he caught his breath, and
stiffened in every line as he recognized the face revealed to him.

"Monsieur," that stern, proud man was saying, "I cannot take advantage
of your ignorance. If these ladies can persuade you to save me, at least
it is due to you that you shall know whom you are saving."

He stood there by the table very erect and dignified, ready to perish as
he had lived--if perish he must--without fear and without deception.

Andre-Louis came slowly forward until he reached the table on the other
side, and then at last the muscles of his set face relaxed, and he
laughed.

"You laugh?" said M. de La Tour d'Azyr, frowning, offended.

"It is so damnably amusing," said Andre-Louis.

"You've an odd sense of humour, M. Moreau."

"Oh, admitted. The unexpected always moves me so. I have found you many
things in the course of our acquaintance. To-night you are the one thing
I never expected to find you: an honest man."

M. de La Tour d'Azyr quivered. But he attempted no reply.

"Because of that, monsieur, I am disposed t