Page:The Unspeakable Gentleman (IA unspeakablegent00marq).pdf/273

 "But it has not been your fault," she answered. "And was it nothing to protect a stranger from a strange land, when you had nothing to gain from it and everything to lose?"

"Mademoiselle forgets," I said, "that I had nothing to lose. It was lost already."

"Then surely," she replied lightly, "surely you must be glad I am going?"

"You know better than that," I answered. "Ah, Mademoiselle, do you not see? I hoped I might show you that I did not always blunder. I hoped I might show you"

The words seemed to choke me.

"Ah, Mademoiselle," I cried, "if I had only been on the stairs at Blanzy!"

"Blanzy!" she echoed, "Pray what has Blanzy to do with you and me?"

Even now I do not know what made me speak, save that she was going. The very ticking of the clock was bringing the moment nearer, and there she was, staring at me, wide-eyed, half puzzled and half frightened. It seemed already as though she were further away.

"Do you not see?" I said. "It is not like you not to understand. Nor is it very kind.