I am not afraid."
I bowed and stepped back, motioning to the lacquey to take the fellow
away, much as I should have motioned him to remove some uncleanness
from before me.
The Vicomtesse withdrew in high dudgeon to her chamber, and I did not
see her again that evening. Mademoiselle I saw once, for a moment,
and she employed that moment to question me touching the origin of
my quarrel with Saint-Eustache.
"Did he really lie, Monsieur de Lesperon?" she asked.
"Upon my honour, mademoiselle," I answered solemnly, "I have
plighted my troth to no living woman." Then my chin sank to my
breast as I bethought me of how tomorrow she must opine me the
vilest liar living - for I was resolved to be gone before Marsac
arrived - since the real Lesperon I did not doubt was, indeed,
betrothed to Mademoiselle de Marsac.
"I shall leave Lavedan betimes to-morrow, mademoiselle," I pursued
presently. "What has happened to-day makes my departure all the
more urgent. Delay may have its dangers. You will hear strange
things of me, as already I have warned you. But be merciful. Much
will be true, much false; yet the truth itself is very vile, and--"
I stopped short, in despair of explaining or even tempering what
had to come. I shrugged my shoulders in my abandonment of hope, and
I turned towards the window. She crossed the room and came to stand
beside me.
"Will you not tell me? Have you no faith in me? Ah, Monsieur de
Lesperon--"
"'Sh! child, I cannot.
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