"
She started. "I should have thought of it!" she cried in
self-reproach, and she turned quickly. "Aline," she begged, "tell
Jacques to bring... "
"Aline!" he echoed, interrupting, and swinging round in his turn.
Then, as Aline rose into view, detaching from her background, and
he at last perceived her, he heaved himself abruptly to his weary
legs again, and stood there stiffly bowing to her across the space
of gleaming floor. "Mademoiselle, I had not suspected your
presence," he said, and he seemed extraordinarily ill-at-ease, a
man startled, as if caught in an illicit act.
"I perceived it, monsieur," she answered, as she advanced to do
madame's commission. She paused before him. "From my heart,
monsieur, I grieve that we should meet again in circumstances so
very painful."
Not since the day of his duel with Andre-Louis - the day which had
seen the death and burial of his last hope of winning her - had
they stood face to face.
He checked as if on the point of answering her. His glance strayed
to Mme.
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