Page:GB Lancaster--law-bringer.djvu/291

Rh But there was love mixed with the pain. Bonds formed in early heat of manhood are not easily broken, and those bonds had been many once. He smiled, taking up his pen. He was dining with the Leigh's to-night; but when he came back he would speak to Dick, and he believed that there was something in Dick's eyes which told that he would be glad of what Tempest had to say.

Dick went to sleep in the big chair in the mess-room that night, and he waked to the sound of soft sobbing and the feel of something wet on his hands and face. Drowsily he opened his eyes, and as he did so Grange's Andree ceased her tears and kisses where she knelt at his knee, and gathered up his right hand against her breast.

"Dick," she said. "Dick."

Just that, and her voice was very low. But Dick, looking into those wet wild-animal eyes of hers, knew that Tempest had spoken truth. By some mockery of the Devil he himself had brought to Andree the gift of a soul—that she might love him with it. For the moment he did not move. He watched her as she knelt there with her face upturned and her curls gathered into the nape of her neck, and he wondered idly what Tempest and some other men would have given to see that light in Andree's eyes. Her fur coat and cap lay on the floor, and the glow of the outside cold was on her skin. She drew his hand across her heart, and her voice shook a little.

"I did think it would stop, moi," she said. "It was si longtemps to wait."

He did not move his eyes from her. He knew too much to doubt the look in her eyes or the leap of her heart under his hand. There was bitterness and there was anger in the faint smile on his lips. This was not fair. Why should this girl who might have loved plenty of men, Heaven knew, choose him? He was not even flattered. The thing had been too simple. He was injured. Fate seldom neglected to make him pay promptly for his sins—and this had not been all his own fault. He sat up, pushing her gently back.

"Come, Andree," he said. "You have no right here, you know."

"Comment donc!" said Andree, and laughed softly. "I