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Updated: June 8, 2025
Good-night, Mr. Aycon." I bade her good-night, and she passed slowly through the door, which I closed behind her. I turned again to the fire, saying: "What would the duchess think of that?" I did not even know what I thought of it myself; of one thing only I felt sure -that what I had heard of Marie Delhasse was not all that there was to learn about her.
Delhasse out of my sight earlier in the evening. If it were so, and if the presence of the luggage indicated that of its owner, the good lady, arriving alone, must have met with the scantest welcome from the duke. And she would return in a fury of anger and suspicion.
And I believe that the duke, on his part, gave equally small heed to the fight; for the smile of triumph or satisfaction flitted now and again across his face, called forth, I made no doubt, by the pleasant conviction which Mlle. Delhasse had instilled into his mind, and which had caused him to dub me a fool for risking my life in the service of a woman who had promised all he asked of her.
"I purpose to escort Mlle. Delhasse back to the convent and leave her there. I suppose we shall all have to answer some questions in regard to this sad matter, and where can she stay near Avranches save there?" "She certainly can't come to my house," said the duchess. "It would be impossible under the circumstances," I agreed. "Under any circumstances," said the duchess haughtily.
And I also, hearing that Marie Delhasse was at the convent, was telling myself that I was a fool not to have thought of it before, and wondering what new impulse had seized the duke's wayward mind. Thus neither the duke nor I was attending to the business of the moment. But there was a man of busy brain, whose life taught him to profit by the slips of other men and to let pass no opportunities.
The rascals had counted on the duke's preoccupation with Marie Delhasse for their opportunity. The duke smiled to hear it. Pierre listened to the whole story without a word of protest or denial; his accomplice's cowardly attempt to present him as the only culprit gained no more notice than another shrug and a softly muttered oath.
He also, in spite of his impatience, seemed to me to be in a better humor than earlier in the day. The interview with Mme. Delhasse must have been satisfactory to both parties. Aycon. You're running a great risk for nothing. Be a sensible man. Go back to Avranches, thence to Cherbourg, and thence to where you live and leave me to settle my own affairs."
Thus, if Marie Delhasse had been stern to the Duke of Saint-Maclou when he lay dying, his wife avenged him to the full and more. For at the words, at the sight of the duchess' disdainful face and of my troubled look, Marie uttered a cry and reeled and sank half-fainting in my arms. "Oh, drive on!" said the Duchess of Saint-Maclou in a wearied tone. And away they drove, leaving us two alone.
Delhasse is very angry with me just now," said I. "Oh, why?" asked the duchess eagerly. "Because she gathered that I thought she ought to wait for an invitation from you, before she went to your house." "She should wait till the Day of Judgment!" cried the duchess. "That would not matter," observed the Mother Superior dryly. Her eye had bidden me, and I followed no less briskly.
Delhasse coming up the stairs. I was fairly caught, there was no doubt about it; and for Marie's sake I was deeply grieved, for I feared that my discovery would mean another stormy scene for her. Nevertheless, to make the best of it, I assumed a jaunty air as I said to Mlle. Delhasse: "The duke will be witness that you were not in your room, madame. You will not be compromised."
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