``You should have seen him marching in a Jacobin procession, Madame,'' he said.
``He follows his friends into strange places,'' she retorted.
``And now, Mr.Temple,'' she added, ``may we trust you to stay here with Lamarque until you have word from us?''
``You know I cannot stay here,'' he cried.
``And why not, Monsieur?''
``If I were captured here, I should get Monsieur de St.
Gre into trouble; and besides,'' he said, with a touch of coldness, ``I cannot be beholden to Monsieur de St.Gre.
I cannot remain on his land.''
``As for getting Monsieur de St.Gre into trouble, his own son could not involve him with the Baron,'' answered Madame la Vicomtesse.``And it seems to me, Monsieur, that you are already so far beholden to Monsieur de St.
Gre that you cannot quibble about going a little more into his debt.Come, Mr.Temple, how has Monsieur de St.
Gre ever offended you?''
``Madame--'' he began.
``Monsieur,'' she said, with an air not to be denied, ``I believe I can discern a point of honor as well as you.
I fail to see that you have a case.''
He was indeed no match for her.He turned to me appealingly, his brows bent, but I had no mind to meddle.
He swung back to her.
``But Madame--!'' he cried.
She was arranging the cards neatly on the table.
``Monsieur, you are tiresome,'' she said.``What is it now?''
He took a step toward her, speaking in a low tone, his voice shaking.But, true to himself, he spoke plainly.
As for me, I looked on frightened,--as though watching a contest,--almost agape to see what a clever woman could do.
``There is--Mademoiselle de St.Gre--''
``Yes, there is Mademoiselle de St.Gre,'' repeated the Vicomtesse, toying with the cards.
His face lighted, though his lips twitched with pain.
``She is still--''
``She is still Mademoiselle de St.Gre, Monsieur, if that is what you mean.''
``And what will she think if I stay here?''
``Ah, do you care what she thinks, Mr.Temple?'' said the Vicomtesse, raising her head quickly.``From what Ihave heard, I should not have thought you could.''
``God help me,'' he answered simply, ``I do care.''
Helene's eyes softened as she looked at him, and my pride in him was never greater than at that moment.
``Mr.Temple,'' she said gently, ``remain where you are and have faith in us.I begin to see now why you are so fortunate in your friends.'' Her glance rested for a brief instant on me.``Mr.Ritchie and I will go to New Orleans, talk to the Baron, and send Andre at once with a message.
If it is in our power, you shall see your mother very soon.''
She held out her hand to him, and he bent and kissed it reverently, with an ease I envied.He followed us to the door.And when the Vicomtesse had gone a little way down the path she looked at him over her shoulder.
``Do not despair, Mr.Temple,'' she said.
It was an answer to a yearning in his face.He gripped me by the shoulders.
``God bless you, Davy,'' he whispered, and added, ``God bless you both.''
I overtook her where the path ran into the forest's shade, and for a long while I walked after her, not breaking her silence, my eyes upon her, a strange throbbing in my forehead which I did not heed.At last, when the perfumes of the flowers told us we were nearing the garden, she turned to me.
``I like Mr.Temple,'' she said, again.
``He is an honest gentleman,'' I answered.
``One meets very few of them,'' she said, speaking in a low voice.``You and I will go to the Governor.And after that, have you any idea where you will go?''
``No,'' I replied, troubled by her regard.
``Then I will tell you.I intend to send you to Madame Gravois's, and she will compel you to go to bed and rest.
I do not mean to allow you to kill yourself.''