He caught the sound of a faint outcry from Aline;
he saw the sudden recoil of M. de Kercadiou. And then he plunged
headlong into the explanation that he deemed necessary.
"In view of his relations with you, M. de Kercadiou, and because
of my deep regard for you, I did my best to avoid this, even though
as you will understand the death of my dear friend and cousin
Chabrillane seemed to summon me to action, even though I knew that
my circumspection was becoming matter for criticism among my friends.
But yesterday this unbridled young man made further restraint
impossible to me. He provoked me deliberately and publicly. He
put upon me the very grossest affront, and... to-morrow morning in
the Bois... we meet."
He faltered a little at the end, fully conscious of the hostile
atmosphere in which he suddenly found himself. Hostility from M.
de Kercadiou, the latter's earlier change of manner had already
led him to expect; the hostility of mademoiselle came more in the
nature of a surprise.
He began to understand what difficulties the course to which he
was committed must raise up for him.
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