Here madame awaited them. She rose, dismissing the young person who
had been reading to her, and came forward with both hands outheld to
greet her cousin Kercadiou.
"I almost feared you would not keep your word," she said. "It was
unjust. But then I hardly hoped that you would succeed in bringing
him." And her glance, gentle, and smiling welcome upon him,
indicated Andre-Louis.
The young man made answer with formal gallantry.
"The memory of you, madame, is too deeply imprinted on my heart for
any persuasions to have been necessary."
"Ah, the courtier!" said madame, and abandoned him her hand. "We
are to have a little talk, Andre-Louis," she informed him, with a
gravity that left him vaguely ill at ease.
They sat down, and for a while the conversation was of general
matters, chiefly concerned, however, with Andre-Louis, his
occupations and his views. And all the while madame was studying
him attentively with those gentle, wistful eyes, until again that
sense of uneasiness began to pervade him. He realized instinctively
that he had been brought here for some purpose deeper than that
which had been avowed.
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