The Crossing

amar

though I was still in as sad a predicament as ever I found myself. There was the thing in my pocket, still wrapped in Polly Ann's hand

," she said in English, and, leaping lightly down from t

the way to Lama

Vicomtess

kirts, she swung round and faced me. In her eyes was a calmness more baffling than the li

here was once a certain

t was taken. It was the costume I wore at Chantilly, and Monsieur le Prince complimented me, and the next day the painter himself came to our

ed, forgetful of

to Louisiana,

did you

St. Gré or Antoinette, and although I had never seen them, I loved them. Perhaps it was

t. Gré spoke often to me of the wonderful pi

swer on the tip of her tongue.

" she asked. "What became of it after

usly and fumble

it again, Ma

this day whether in consternation or jest. In

ve it you last

u not?" she dem

ght and day, how I had dreamed of it, how it had been my inspiration and counsel. I drew it from my pocket, wrapped as it was in the handkerchief, and uncovered it with a reve

are of it, Monsieur,"

mine, Madame

had been?

strange p

ken no better care of it," I ans

ok it

ndkerchief?

ef was Polly An

second flower that h

olly Ann?

Polly Ann found me in the hills. When she married Tom McChesney they took me across

er expression than I had yet seen in her face. She thrust the miniat

te sold i

," I

y in you," said the Vicomtesse, without tu

oo, and an orchard. A path of beaten earth led to the door, which was open. There we paused. Seated at a rude table was Lamarque himself, his hoary head bent over the cards he held in his hand. Oppos

cousin," sh

o the devil you would learn not to sneak. Yo

ly for a moment, and rose, dropping his cards on t

Vicomtess

, was staring at her. How he managed to

beg your pardon. I thought you

gs, sir," answered the Vi

ked at her again. "Egad, I

comtesse in confusion. And indeed if it

you do not mend your company," she sai

ning past the Vicomtesse, he seized me in his impulsive way and searched my face. "So you have followed me here,

asked. She was smiling, yet l

itchie get me out," he answer

rondelet does not hang you or put you in the Morro, you will not

tesse!" exclaime

u, Madame, Mr. Nicho

and she cour

his knee, and laughed. "That may account for the Citizen Captain de St. Gré's abse

k of understanding. Relief was plain

e, Monsieur. He has just

you give me something of a surprise. Is there another conspiracy at Terre au

e laughed. Then she

ow where he had

"Citizen Lamarque and I were having a little

gain, and once more the shade

g of her own kind in France, who faced the guillotine without sense of danger. She turned to Nick. "You may be int

lighted up with that smile which won every one he

r one has travelled much with Auguste it is difficult to take a grea

r. Doubtless you know it. Monsieur le Baron de Carondelet considers that the intrigues of the French Revolutionists in Louisiana

ou arrived here on this ridiculou

"We enjoy ourselves in different ways. I thought there might

r yet," said t

chez by that little pig, Citizen Gignoux, and we shot past De Lemos in the night. Since then we have been permitted to sleep-no more-at various plantations. We have been waked up at barbarous h

hat he has already sold o

E

th the police at the Governor'

silent fo

." Then he laughed. "I wonder why Auguste didn'

get to this h

night, after we had lost

where you a

one of the pleasantest men I have met in Louisiana, although a little taciturn, as you perceive, and

esse looked at h

are on Monsieur de St. Gré's plantation, a

nce. He seized me by both shou

re at Les ?les?" h

Then Nick dropped his arms, went to the door, and stood for a long time with his back turned

I think I would k

land. But this matter of bringing him to Les ?les was past pardon. It was another

e related to Monsieur de St. Gré. I give you my word of honor as a

e glanced at me as though seeking my approval for her next move. It was characteristic of her that she did not now shirk a task imposed by

chairs, and looked at Nick curiously. There was no such thing as embarrassment in her manner, no trace of misgiving that she would not move prope

d my breath, knowing full well as I

he said. "I wish to speak

raightened, and stared at her as though he ha

said. "I would have told you in Lou

ight have spared me. Mrs. Temple did not think herself necessary to my

as expiation, Monsieur

am, and when I might have redeemed my

mtesse, "have you ever co

a new interest. She was not so

s?" he repeate

ted; and without heeding her glance of protest I co

ame!" he

Nick, "I have done nothing that was not selfish. I have been in the world, I have lived my life, misfortunes h

nd her so, Madame

her than your fault, Mr. Temple. It

o this woman who dared a subject sore to the touch-who pressed it gently, but with determination, never doubting her powers, ye

ppeal to you. It would be useless for me to try to influence you, and from what Mr. Ritchie and others have told me of your character I am

No wonder Madame la Vicomtesse

with a screen of yellow and red tiles at the edge of the roof. It is on the south side, next to the corner of the Rue St. Philippe. There she lives absolutely alone, except for a servant. Mr. Clark, who has charge of her affairs, w

a low tone. I scarcely dare

but your mother sent her away. For five years she has lived there, Mr. Temple, alone with her past, alone with her sorrow and remorse. You must draw the p

" he said, raisin

ntly taking no notice of his interruption. She leaned towa

in. I felt for him, I would have gone to him then had it not been for the sense in me that Hélène

" he

morse have killed her, Monsieur. The one thing that she has prayed for through the long nights is that she might see you once again and o

d his face, and then h

useful man," he said;

to ruin the rest of it

ared

forgive her, you will remembe

oulder, and at my touch he started. Then he did a singular thing, an impulsive thing, characteristic of the old Nick I had known. He reached across the table and

said, springing to his feet. "I

ng to her hand, she still unre

y hat, Davy

ithdrew her hand

, Mr. Temple," she said; "Monsieur de Ca

t Monsieur de Carondelet may throw me into prison, may h

how wilful he was when aroused. Admiration was in he

es of the city. Monsieur le Baron

pace the little room

ssport, Davy," he cr

could," said the Vicomtesse. I flushed. I

will be no trouble to steal into the city. You say the house

her finger

be quite so angry. Pardon me if I say that he is not disposed to take your expedition any more seriously than is your own Federal government. The little Baron is irascible, choleric, stern, or else good-natured, good-hearted, and charitable, just as one happens to take him. As we say in France, it is not well to strike flint and steel in his presence. He might blow up and destroy one. Suppose some one were to go to Monsieur de Carondelet and

n to be found," said Nick,

Vicomtesse

e is before y

to say, Madame, that you will

said. "He will have to be waked from

ve you," said Nick

lieve he will," said

he would not be flesh

eye rested judicially on me. I was stand

o take him with

esse. "Mr. Ritchie knows you, and he is

k b

marching in a Jacobin pr

ed. "And now, Mr. Temple," she added, "may we trust you

annot stay he

not, Mo

rouble; and besides," he said, with a touch of coldness, "I canno

la Vicomtesse. "And it seems to me, Monsieur, that you are already so far beholden to Monsieur de St. Gré that you ca

e-" he

ed, "I believe I can discern a point of honor as

to me appealingly, his brows bent, but I h

ame-!" h

g the cards neat

tiresome," she said

true to himself, he spoke plainly. As for me, I looked on frightened,-as

ademoiselle

e St. Gré," repeated the Vico

though his lips

is st

e de St. Gré, Monsieur, i

l she think i

the Vicomtesse, raising her head quickly. "From what

he answered sim

ed at him, and my pride in him was

nate in your friends." Her glance rested for a brief instant on me. "Mr. Ritchie and I will go to New Orleans, tal

h an ease I envied. He followed us to the door. And when the Vicomtesse

ir, Mr. Templ

rning in his face. He gri

he whispered, and added

, not breaking her silence, my eyes upon her, a strange throbbing in my forehead which I did not h

Temple," she

est gentleman

a low voice. "You and I will go to the Governor. A

ed, troubled

e Gravois's, and she will compel you to go to bed an