M. de La Tour d'Azyr, overcome; reeled away to a chair and sat down
heavily. Losing command of himself for a moment, he took his
haggard face in his hands.
Through the windows open to the garden came from the distance the
faint throbbing of a drum to remind them of what was happening
around them. But the sound went unheeded. To each it must have
seemed that here they were face to face with a horror greater than
any that might be tormenting Paris. At last Andre-Louis began to
speak, his voice level and unutterably cold.
"M. de La Tour d'Azyr," he said, "I trust that you'll agree that
this disclosure, which can hardly be more distasteful and horrible
to you than it is to me, alters nothing, - since it effaces nothing
of all that lies between us. Or, if it alters anything, it is
merely to add something to that score. And yet... Oh, but what can
it avail to talk! Here, monsieur, take this safe-conduct which is
made out for Mme. de Plougastel's footman, and with it make your
escape as best you can. In return I will beg of you the favour
never to allow me to see you or hear of you again.
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