Yet, for your sakes, I
take no advantage of it, provided that he does at once as I have
desired him."
And now from beyond the table the Marquis spoke icily, and as he
spoke his right hand stirred under the ample folds of his greatcoat.
"I am glad, M. Moreau, that you take that tone with me. You relieve
me of the last scruple. You spoke of Fate just now, and I must
agree with you that Fate has meddled oddly, though perhaps not to
the end that you discern. For years now you have chosen to stand
in my path and thwart me at every turn, holding over me a perpetual
menace. Persistently you have sought my life in various ways, first
indirectly and at last directly. Your intervention in my affairs
has ruined my highest hopes - more effectively, perhaps, than you
suppose. Throughout you have been my evil genius. And you are even
one of the agents of this climax of despair that has been reached
by me to-night."
"Wait! Listen!" Madame was panting. She flung away from
Andre-Louis, as if moved by some premonition of what was coming.
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