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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。
Even now she feared to jump to the obvious conclusion feared lest
perhaps the Marquis； though himself wounded； might have dealt his
adversary a deadlier wound。
She found her voice at last； and at the same moment signalled to
the driver of the caleche to stop。
As it was Pulled to a standstill； M。 d'Ormesson alighted； and so
met madame in the little space between the two carriages。
〃Where is M。 Moreau？〃 was the question with which she surprised him。
〃Following at his leisure； no doubt； madame；〃 he answered；
recovering。
〃He is not hurt？〃
〃Unfortunately it is we who。。。 〃 M。 d'Ormesson was beginning； when
from behind him M。 de La Tour d'Azyr's voice cut in crisply：
〃This interest on your part in M。 Moreau； dear Countess。。。 〃
He broke off； observing a vague challenge in the air with which
she confronted him。 But indeed his sentence did not need completing。
There was a vaguely awkward pause。 And then she looked at M。
d'Ormesson。 Her manner changed。 She offered what appeared to be
an explanation of her concern for M。 Moreau。
〃Mademoiselle de Kercadiou is with me。 The poor child has fainted。〃
There was more； a deal more； she would have said just then； but for
M。 d'Ormesson's presence。
Moved by a deep solicitude for Mademoiselle de Kertadiou； de La Tour
d'Azyr sprang up despite his wound。
〃I am in poor case to render assistance； madame；〃 he said； an
apologetic smile on his pale face。 〃But。。。 〃
With the aid of d'Ormesson； and in spite of the latter's
protestations； he got down from the caleche； which then moved on a
little way； so as to leave the road clear … for another carriage
that was approaching from the direction of the Bois。
And thus it happened that when a few moments later that approaching
cabriolet overtook and passed the halted vehicles； Andre…Louis
beheld a very touching scene。 Standing up to obtain a better view；
he saw Aline in a half…swooning condition … she was beginning to
revive by now … seated in the doorway of the carriage； supported by
Mme。 de Plougastel。 In an attitude of deepest concern； M。 de La
Tour d'Azyr； his wound notwithstanding； was bending over the girl；
whilst behind him stood M。 d'Ormesson and madame's footman。
The Countess looked up and saw him as he was driven past。 Her face
lighted； almost it seemed to him she was about to greet him or to
call him； wherefore； to avoid a difficulty； arising out of the
presence there of his late antagonist； he anticipated her by bowing
frigidly … for his mood was frigid； the more frigid by virtue of
what he saw … and then resumed his seat with eyes that looked
deliberately ahead。
Could anything more completely have confirmed him in his conviction
that it was on M。 de La Tour d'Azyr's account that Aline had come
to plead with him that morning？ For what his eyes had seen； of
course； was a lady overcome with emotion at the sight of blood of
her dear friend； and that same dear friend restoring her with
assurances that his hurt was very far from mortal。 Later； much
later； he was to blame his own perverse stupidity。 Almost is he
too severe in his self…condemnation。 For how else could he have
interpreted the scene he beheld； his preconceptions being what
they were？
That which he had already been suspecting； he now accounted proven
to him。 Aline had been wanting in candour on the subject of her
feelings towards M。 de La Tour d'Azyr。 It was； he supposed； a
woman's way to be secretive in such matters； and he must not blame
her。 Nor could he blame her in his heart for having succumbed to
the singular charm of such a man as the Marquis … for not even his
hostility could blind him to M。 de La Tour d'Azyr's attractions。
That she had succumbed was betrayed； he thought； by the weakness
that had overtaken her upon seeing him wounded。
〃My God！〃 he cried aloud。 〃What must she have suffered； then； if
I had killed him as I intended！〃
If only she had used candour with him； she could so easily have won
his consent to the thing she asked。 If only she had told him what
now he saw； that she loved M。 de La Tour d'Azyr； instead of leaving
him to assume her only regard for the Marquis to be based on
unworthy worldly ambition； he would at once have yielded。
He fetched a sigh； and breathed a prayer for forgiveness to the
shade of Vilmorin。
〃It is perhaps as well that my lunge went wide；〃 he said。
〃What do you mean？〃 wondered Le Chapelier。
〃That in this business I must relinquish all hope of recommencing。〃
CHAPTER XII
THE OVERWHELMING REASON
M。 de La Tour d'Azyr was seen no more in the Manege … or indeed in
Paris at all … throughout all the months that the National Assembly
remained in session to complete its work of providing France with
a constitution。 After all； though the wound to his body had been
comparatively slight； the wound to such a pride as his had been
all but mortal。
The rumour ran that he had emigrated。 But that was only half the
truth。 The whole of it was that he had joined that group of noble
travellers who came and went between the Tuileries and the
headquarters of the emigres at Coblenz。 He became； in short； a
member of the royalist secret service that in the end was to bring
down the monarchy in ruins。
As for Andre…Louis； his godfather's house saw him no more； as a
result of his conviction that M。 de Kercadiou would not relent from
his written resolve never to receive him again if the duel were
fought。
He threw himself into his duties at the Assembly with such zeal and
effect that when … its purpose accomplished … the Constituent was
dissolved in September of the following year； membership of the
Legislative； whose election followed immediately； was thrust upon
him。
He considered then； like many others； that the Revolution was a
thing accomplished； that France had only to govern herself by the
Constitution which had been given her； and that all would now be
well。 And so it might have been but that the Court could not bring
itself to accept the altered state of things。 As a result of its
intrigues half Europe was arming to hurl herself upon France； and
her quarrel was the quarrel of the French King with his people。
That was the horror at the root of all the horrors that were to come。
Of the counter…revolutionary troubles that were everywhere being
stirred up by the clergy； none were more acute than those of Brittany；
and； in view of the influence it was hoped he would wield in his
native province； it was proposed to Andre…Louis by the Commission of
Twelve； in the early days of the Girondin ministry； that he should
go thither to combat the unrest。 He was desired to proceed
peacefully； but his powers were almost absolute； as is shown by the
orders he carried … orders enjoining all to render him assistance
and warning those who might hinder him that they would do so at
their peril。
He accepted the task； and he was one of the five plenipotentiaries
despatched on the same errand in that spring of 1792。 It kept him
absent from Paris for four months and might have kept him longer
but that at the beginning of August he was recalled。 More imminent
than any trouble in Brittany was the trouble brewing in Paris itself；
when the political sky was blacker than it had been since '89。
Paris realized that the hour was rapidly approaching which would
see the climax of the long struggle between Equality and Privilege。
And it was towards a city so disposed that Andre…Louis came speeding
from the West； to find there also the climax of his own disturbed
career。
Mlle。 de Kercadiou； too； was in Paris in those days of early August；
on a visit to her uncle's cousin and dearest friend； Mme。 de
Plougastel。 And although nothing could now be plainer than the
seething unrest that heralded the explosion to come； yet the air of
gaiety； indeed of jocularity； prevailing at Court … whither madame
and mademoiselle went almost daily … reassured them。 M。 de
Plougastel had come and gone again； back to Coblenz on that secret
business that kept him now almost constantly absent from his wife。
But whilst with her he had positively assured her that all measures
were taken； and that an insurrection was a thing to be welcomed；
because it could have one only conclusion； the final crushing of
the Revolution in the courtyard of the Tuileries。 That； he added；
was why the King remained in Paris。 But for his confidence in that
he would put himself in the centre of his Swiss and his knights of
the dagger； and quit the capital。 They would hack a way out for
him easily if his departure were opposed。 But not even that would
be necessary。
Yet in those early days of August； after her husband's departure
the effect of his inspiring words was gradually dissipated by the
march of events under madame's own eyes。 And finally on the
afternoon of the ninth； there arrived at the Hotel Plougastel a
messenge