The Lane That Had No Turning, Complete

l lived, they saw the door open and a man come hurrie

m. She did not speak, but her heart

m and shuf

done with you yet-you'll see." Then, shaking a fist in

elf. The servant stared stonily at first, then, as she mentioned her name and he saw her face, he suddenly became servile,

still, came to say that Monsieur would receive her in his library

ill Madame perhaps care for refreshment-and a mirror, be

atters at stake, Madelinette could not but smile. "Th

ere perhaps, Madame," he s

on. Lives perhaps were in the balance, but she was a woman, a

bring what is necessary," he said, and was gone. In a moment he appeared

xiety, to show that he knew who she was, "I suppose you

e friend. She made a hasty toilet, and but for the great paleness of her cheeks, no traces remained of the three days' travel with their hardship and an

tered he quickly drew the curtains of the windows and turned towards his visitor, a curious,

and sat down beside the great oak writing-desk and waited for her to speak-waited

elf before the latent insolence of his look. It seemed to degrade her out of all consideration. He

tray towards him. "Will you not have some refreshment?" he added, in an even voice.

hospitality rest upon its basis of natural courtesy. It was clear

id, her voice trembling a little. She plun

old-" she stopped for an in

we may call it that privately-as he came. He was fired at-was wounded. You will share with me the hope that the highwayman who stoppe

as at stake; she could not rese

eur, as you know. Tardif was the th

ter in his eyes. "Its delivery has been long del

ay? You have the will, your rights a

be plain then, Madame, and as simple as you please. You con

composure. She was about to reply when he added, with a sneer: "Avarice is a

uld have been easy to destroy the w

said harshly: "If crime were always inte

s words. But she was fighting for an end t

honour," she insisted, as he threw back his head and laughed. "What do y

h a strange herd, or the pig put his feet in the trough? No

k in my day, but I have never heard a man-of my own race at least-so rude to a woman. But I am here not for my o

ill-"of concealment, and enjoyment of property not your own, and then ask

for profit, for the value of the Seigneury of Pontiac.

eless yo

to you when I found it, Monsieur. And for that same reason

put upon the Seigneury, I will pay-from the hour my husband entered on the property, its heir as he believed. Put s

ame, that I am as

o offer double the

You married a mad nobody; you wish to

usband's sake, not my ow

xpect me to do for

you; he made you fight him. But, Monsieur, he has repented of that. He is ill,

robs you of house and land, and tries to murder you, lest he should b

you think that if he knew that will existed, he would be no

ample

t the avocat only, whose duty it was to do as he did. That he did it the more gladly because he was a Frenchman and you an Englishman, is not his fault or yours either. Louis Racine's people came here two hun

ctical power' is usually all self. He dreamed-he gave his heart and soul up for ideas. Englishmen do not understand that. Do you not know-you

t answer, but sat as thoug

hen the Seigneury of Pontiac came to him, felt as if a new life were opened up to him, and saw a way to some of his ambitions. They were sad, mistaken ambitio

e chances of a great career," in

straint now, for she saw he was listening, despite assumed indifference-"and Pontiac was dearer to me than all else in the world.

possession before M. de la Riviere died, as a man humbly born prides himself on the distinguished lineage of his wife. His great schemes were completed, he was a rich man, and he had pictured him

against his outrage and assault, but I will move to purpose now. For you and he shall leave there in disgrace before another week goes round. I have you bo

she bent towards him slightly. Something seemed to possess her that transfigured her fac

sentiments and ideas; we make idols of trifles, and we die for fancies. We dream, we have shrines for memories. These things you despise. You would give us justice and make us rich by what you call progress. Monsieur, that is no

een in his family for over two hundred years. Monsieur, it has meant more to him than a hundred times greater honour could to you. When his trouble came, when-" she paused, as though it was diffi

ase continue?" said Fournel, opening and shutting the will in

return to Pontiac!... I will tell you the whole truth, Monsieur." She drew herself up proudly. "I loved-Louis. He came into my heart with it

ice said: "Will you not sit

k and words. That is the wonder of it, the pity of it, and the joy of it. Because it is so, because love would shield the beloved from itself if need be, and from all the terrors of the world at any cost, I have done what I have done. I did it at cost of my honour, but it was for his sake; at the price of my peace, but to spare him. Ah, Monsieur, the days of life are not many for him: his shame and his futile aims are killing him. The clouds will soon close over, and his vexed brain and body will be s

easy to a hundred times as much," he said, in a low meaning voice, and his eyes boldly held hers. "You are doing a chivalrous sort of thing that only a woman would do-for duty; do something fo

ill of me then? Do I seem to you like-!" She turned away,

e at night," he persisted.

kill you. You would do-ah, but let me pass!" she said, with a sudden fury. "You-

haking voice, "I did not know that such a woman lived. Madame, I could have sworn there was none in the world." Then in a quicker, huskier note he added: "Eighteen years ago a woman nearly spoiled my life. She w

ick impulsive gesture towards him,

truck to

"Some are hurt in one way and some in

r way," he interrup

y rejoined, then with a sudden cry rushed towards him, for

do it," she cried. "I only as

ad held the flaming paper above her reach, an

ome wine?" he said quietly,