His sky-blue coat with
three collars had been buttoned over this, so that the right sleeve
hung empty. Otherwise, saving a certain pallor, he looked much his
usual self.
And now you understand how it was that he was the first to return,
and that seeing him thus returning, apparently safe and sound, the
two ladies, intent upon preventing the encounter, should have
assumed that their worst fears were realized.
Mme. de Plougastel attempted to call out, but her voice refused its
office. She attempted to throw open the door of her own carriage;
but her fingers fumbled clumsily and ineffectively with the handle.
And meanwhile the caleche was slowly passing, La Tour d'Azyr's fine
eyes sombrely yet intently meeting her own anguished gaze. And then
she saw something else. M. d'Ormesson, leaning back again from the
forward inclination of his body to join his own to his companion's
salutation of the Countess, disclosed the empty right sleeve of M.
de La Tour d'Azyr's blue coat. More, the near side of the coat
itself turned back from the point near the throat where it was
caught together by single button, revealed the slung arm beneath
in its blood-sodden cambric sleeve.
Pages:
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580