Page:Gilbert Parker--The Lane that had No Turning.djvu/318

302 of the Baron. ‘I ordered the firing-party, m’sieu’ le Baron,’ he answered.

"The Baron’s eyes got fierce and his face hardened, but he stooped and drew the ears of the hound through his hand softly. ‘Marmette was my cousin’s son, and had lived with me,’ he said. ‘A brave lad, and he had a nice hatred of vileness—else he had not died.’ A strange smile played on his lips for a moment, then he looked at Falise steadily. Who can tell what was working in his mind! ‘War is war,’ he went on, ‘and Bigot was your master, Garoche; but the man pays for his master’s sins this way or that. Yet I would not have it different, no, not a jot.’ Then he turned round to the crowd, raised his hat to the Curé, who stood on the chapel steps, once more looked steadily at Falise, and said: ‘You shall all come to the Manor House, and have your feastings there, and we will drink to the home-coming of the fairest woman in my barony.’ With that he turned round, bowed to Falise, put on his hat, caught the bridle through his arm, and led his horse to the Manor House.

"This was in the afternoon. Of course, whether they wished or not, Garoche and Falise could not refuse, and the people were glad enough, for they would have a free hand at meat and wine, the Baron being liberal of table. And it was as they guessed, for though the time was so short, the people at Beaugard soon had the tables heavy with food and drink. It was just at the time of candle-lighting the Baron came in and gave a toast. ‘To the dwellers in Eden to-night,’ he said—‘Eden against the time of the Angel and the Sword.’ I do not think that any except the Curé and the woman understood, and she, maybe, only because a woman feels the truth about a thing, even when