"True!" he said. "But nine o'clock will soon be
here. Tell me," he asked her suddenly, "why did you not carry this
request of yours to M. de La Tour d'Azyr?"
"I did," she answered him, and flushed as she remembered her
yesterday's rejection. He interpreted the flush quite otherwise.
"And he?" he asked.
"M. de La Tour d'Azyr's obligations... " she was beginning: then
she broke off to answer shortly: "Oh, he refused."
"So, so. He must, of course, whatever it may have cost him. Yet
in his place I should have counted the cost as nothing. But men
are different, you see." He sighed. "Also in your place, had that
been so, I think I should have left the matter there. But then... "
"I don't understand you, Andre."
"I am not so very obscure. Not nearly so obscure as I can be. Turn
it over in your mind. It may help to comfort you presently." He
consulted his watch again. "Pray use this house as your own. I
must be going."
Le Chapelier put his head in at the door.
"Forgive the intrusion. But we shall be late, Andre, unless you.
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