登陆注册
19629600000060

第60章 CHAPTER XVII(4)

She ceased, and her eyes fell before his glance, which remained riveted upon her face. Immovable he stood a moment or two, then he turned from her with a little sigh, and leaning his elbow upon the window-sill, he gazed down into the crowds surging about the second tumbril. But although he saw much there that was calculated to compel attention, he heeded nothing. His thoughts were very busy, and he was doing what Mademoiselle had bidden him. He was looking into himself. And from that questioning he gathered not only that he loved her, but that he loved her so well and so truly that - in spite even of all that was passed - he must do her will, and deliver up to her the man she loved.

His resolve was but half taken when he heard her stirring in the room behind him. He turned sharply to find that she had gained the door.

"Mademoiselle!" he called after her. She stopped, and as she turned, he observed that her lashes were wet. But in her heart there arose now a fresh hope, awakened by the name by which he had recalled her. "Whither are you going?" he asked.

"Away, Monsieur," she answered. "I was realising that my journey had indeed been in vain."

He looked at her a second in silence. Then stepping forward:

"Mademoiselle," he said, very quietly, "your arguments have prevailed, and it shall be as you desire. The ci-devant Vicomte d'Ombreval shall go free."

Her face seemed to grow of a sudden paler, and for an instant she stood still as if robbed of understanding. Then she came forward with hands outheld.

" aid I not that you were good and generous? Said I not that you could be noble, Monsieur?" she cried, as she caught his resisting hand and sought to carry it to her lips. "God will bless you, Monsieur - "

He drew his hand away, but without roughness. "Let us say no more, Mademoiselle," he begged.

"But I will," she answered him. "I am not without heart, Monsieur, and now that you have given me this proof of the deep quality of your love, I - " She paused, as if at a loss for words.

"Well, Mademoiselle?" he urged her.

"I have it in my heart to wish that - that it were otherwise," she said, her cheeks reddening under his gaze. "If it were not that I account myself in honour bound to wed M. le Vicomte - "

"Stop!" he interrupted her. He had caught at last the drift of what she was saying. "There is no need for any comedy, Suzanne.

Enough of that had we at Boisvert."

"It is not comedy," she cried with heat. "It was not altogether comedy at Boisvert."

"True," he said, wilfully misunderstanding her that he might the more easily dismiss the subject," it went nearer to being tragedy."

Then abruptly he asked her:

"Where are you residing?"

She paused before replying. She still wanted to protest that some affection for him dwelt in her heart, although curbed (to a greater extent even than she was aware) by the difference in their stations, and checked by her plighted word to Ombreval. At last, abandoning a purpose which his countenance told her would be futile:

"I am staying with my old nurse at Choisy," she answered him.

"Henriette Godelliere is her name. She is well known in the village, and seems in good favour with the patriots, so that I account myself safe. I am believed to be her niece from the country."

"Hum!" he snorted. "The Citoyenne Godelliere's niece from the country in silks?"

"That is what someone questioned, and she answered that it was a gown plundered from the wardrobe of some emigrated aristocrats."

"Have a care, Suzanne," said he. "The times are dangerous, and it is a matter of a week ago since a man was lanterne for no other reason than because he was wearing gloves, which was deemed an aristocratic habit. Come, Mademoiselle, let us gather up your gems.

You were going without them some moments ago."

And down upon his knees he went, and, taking up the little bag which had been left where he had flung it, he set himself to restore the jewels to it. She came to his assistance, in spite of his protestations, and so, within a moment or two, the task was completed, and the little treasure was packed away in the bosom of her gown.

"To-morrow," he said, as he took his leave of her at the door, "I shall hope to bring the ci-devant Vicomte to Choisy, and I will see that he is equipped with a laissez-passer that will carry both of you safely out of France."

She was beginning to thank him all over again, but he cut her short, and so they parted.

Long after she was gone did he sit at his writing-table, his head in his hands and his eyes staring straight before him. His face looked grey and haggard; the lines that seared it were lines of pain.

"They say," he murmured once, thinking aloud, as men sometimes will in moments of great stress," that a good action brings its own reward. Perhaps my action is not a good one, after all, and that is why I suffer."

And, burying his head in his arms, he remained thus with his sorrow until his official entered to inquire if he desired lights.

同类推荐
  • 礼器

    礼器

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 蕉叶帕

    蕉叶帕

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Andreas Hofer

    Andreas Hofer

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • La Mere Bauche

    La Mere Bauche

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 潮嘉风月

    潮嘉风月

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 混世大魔

    混世大魔

    市井泼皮偶得绝世修魔宝典,纵横八荒六合,横推四方敌手,打爆漫天神佛,成就一代混世魔王!
  • 浓香家常小炒(天天营养百味)

    浓香家常小炒(天天营养百味)

    这是一本专门介绍家常小炒的菜谱书。本书精选了300余款家庭经常食用的美味营养菜肴,具体介绍了每款菜肴的用料配比、制作方法、口味特点、制作要点及营养功效。本书内容丰富,科学实用,易学易做,非常适合广大读者阅读。
  • 谁的成长不纠结:勇往“职”前Ⅰ

    谁的成长不纠结:勇往“职”前Ⅰ

    在职场,每个人最重要的功课就是“自我管理和成长”。只有解决了这一问题,接下来才能稳稳当当的管理好一个团队,最终到达管理好一个公司的高度。作者凭借深厚的“性格类型咨询”的研究基础和人力资源管理的多年经验,首创了这一套最适用于中国职场人的心理学测评方法——性格“四分法”。让读者明晰自己和他人的个性,轻松与人相处。本书资料翔实,借鉴了英国心理学会(BPS)的权威数据,对中国职场人各个阶段可能遭遇的职场问题一一剖析,并为这些问题提供切实可行的解决办法,是最实用也最贴心的职场心理学手册。
  • 重返儒道十万年

    重返儒道十万年

    圣者以脊梁称量诸神!王者以双手制霸天下!(最热血仙侠)这是一个大道盛世:这里有儒家儒府修浩然之气,以诗词歌赋为法;有战家战府修无上战道,,养杀戮之兵;有法家法府设天地牢笼,养天劫以为最;有道家道府修阴阳之变,证道得永生!这也是一个天骄盛典;妖域妖龙之神八太子;冥域冥帝任黄泉;神域诸神之子无极;仙域仙道之子君无风;人域墨家巨子墨无缘;魔域魔道少主千机涯、荒域荒神灭战以及精域精灵之女夜魅尘,率万族天骄,竞相逐鹿!且看一代天骄重返过去,以儒家学院弟子之名,斗阴阳,破九天,再次君临天下,开创一个儒道盛世纪元!(做下约定,此书上架前收藏过万,当月每日至少万字更新,恳求诸位支持!)
  • 精忠报国

    精忠报国

    坚持了一千多个日日夜夜,究其动因,当然少不了朋友们不断给我的鼓气,希望我不要半途而废。同时也是剧中人物在时时无形地推动着我,越写越感到非把他们写出来不可。这期间也有一些朋友劝我何必自找苦吃:你写得好吗?你写出来有人看吗?有人用吗?你有钱将它推向社会吗?知道吗?现在“触电”难呢!他们说的都是实实在在的问题。但是,我最终毫不回头地走自己的路。
  • 夜月小镇1

    夜月小镇1

    若光是倒霉也就罢了,在这个小镇上,还受尽别人的冷眼?这是为何?他们对我既冷落,也抵触,似乎......有些害怕?!这又是为何,春游啊!你快结束吧!若只是春游倒霉也就罢了,莫名其妙的在春游之前“捡”到了一个蛋,居然孵出了一只傲娇虎!苍天啊!命运啊!你是在逗我吗!?
  • 流年遇见最美的自己

    流年遇见最美的自己

    原来,相遇的时光会老,深情的久伴会散,再深的记忆也逃不过遗忘。那就静静的安好吧!本书又名“遇见你是最大的惊喜”
  • 封绝天下

    封绝天下

    东土神州,在上古年间,本来是一块荒废的土地。某日,有甘露自域外降落,滴水成河,自西向东,横穿两地,聚而成江,唤作坤江。人族依靠坤江发展,繁衍至今,修道之风盛行,学院宗门遍地,各族天骄横行。出云山脉,一个废物少年封天,肩扛一只白狐,独闯深山大荒,斩天骄、破奇阵,战万族……封绝天下也罢,怎敌得过你眉前的一片雪花……
  • 地狱狐狸炎

    地狱狐狸炎

    一双红眸,一身红装,这是他第一次见她,他被她的聪慧而惊艳。因为是红眸,他便对她多了些注意,最后发现自己已对她离不了视线。。他是魔族至尊,世人口中的血魔。身边从不近女色。他们都是命运之神选中的俩人,却给了她灭族之灾。她是灵狐一族的存活者,为了报仇,她甘愿放弃自由,站在他的身边...她的一双红眸带给她不知是福还是祸......
  • 圣诞探案记(克里斯蒂侦探小说)

    圣诞探案记(克里斯蒂侦探小说)

    西米恩·李年轻时候什么坏事都干过,骗过、偷过,总是爱拈花惹草,在外可能有不少私生子。就是这样一个人,现在年龄大了,虽然有钱,但身体不再健康,终日只有坐在轮椅上,他还有什么乐子呢?于是他专门以“整”他的家人为乐。马上是圣诞节了,他又灵机一动,要所有的儿子(包括一个多年未曾回过家的坏儿子)、儿媳以及一个从未见过面的外孙女都回来团聚,表面上好像希望全家团圆,实际上他又在找乐子。恰好他以前在南非合伙人的儿子前来探望他,他也邀请其留下来过节。圣诞节前一天下午,老李把家里人都叫到他房里,逐个地或激怒、或教训、或讽刺、或羞辱了一番,让他们一个个灰溜溜地离开他的房间了。