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 CHAPTER IX

THE AWAKENING

" you know," said Climène, "that I am waiting for the explanation which I think you owe me?"

They were alone together, lingering still at the table to which André-Louis had come belatedly, and André-Louis was loading himself a pipe. Of late—since joining the Binet Troupe—he had acquired the habit of smoking. The others had gone, some to take the air and others, like Binet and Madame, because they felt that it were discreet to leave those two to the explanations that must pass. It was a feeling that André-Louis did not share. He kindled a light and leisurely applied it to his pipe. A frown came to settle on his brow.

"Explanation?" he questioned presently, and looked at her. "But on what score?"

"On the score of the deception you have practised on us—on me."

"I have practised none," he assured her.

"You mean that you have simply kept your own counsel, and that in silence there is no deception. But it is deceitful to withhold facts concerning yourself and your true station from your future wife.  You should not have pretended to be a simple country lawyer, which, of course, any one could see that you are not.  It may have been very romantic, but ... Enfin, will you explain?"

"I see," he said, and pulled at his pipe. "But you are wrong, Climène. I have practised no deception.  If there are things about me that I have not told you, it is that I did not account them of much importance.  But I have never deceived you by pretending to be other than I am.  I am neither more nor less than I have represented myself."