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with me。 I must submit to be judged by the laws of the world。〃
The last words were uttered in a lower voice。 Even as he realized with a profound intuition all the manifold misery awakened by that melancholy thought； the glance that he gave Helene had something of the power of the serpent； stirring a whole dormant world in the mind of the strange girl before him。 To her that glance was like a light revealing unknown lands。 She was stricken with strange trouble； helpless； quelled by a magnetic power exerted unconsciously。 Trembling and ashamed； she went out and returned to the salon。 She had scarcely entered the room before her father came back； so that she had not time to say a word to her mother。
The General was wholly absorbed in thought。 He folded his arms； and paced silently to and fro between the windows which looked out upon the street and the second row which gave upon the garden。 His wife lay the sleeping Abel on her knee； and little Moina lay in untroubled slumber in the low chair； like a bird in its nest。 Her older sister stared into the fire； a skein of silk in one hand； a needle in the other。
Deep silence prevailed； broken only by lagging footsteps on the stairs； as one by one the servants crept away to bed； there was an occasional burst of stifled laughter； a last echo of the wedding festivity； or doors were opened as they still talked among themselves； then shut。 A smothered sound came now and again from the bedrooms； a chair fell； the old coachman coughed feebly； then all was silent。
In a little while the dark majesty with which sleeping earth is invested at midnight brought all things under its sway。 No lights shone but the light of the stars。 The frost gripped the ground。 There was not a sound of a voice； nor a living creature stirring。 The crackling of the fire only seemed to make the depth of the silence more fully felt。
The church clock of Montreuil had just struck one； when an almost inaudible sound of a light footstep came from the second flight of stairs。 The Marquis and his daughter； both believing that M。 de Mauny's murderer was a prisoner above； thought that one of the maids had come down； and no one was at all surprised to hear the door open in the ante…chamber。 Quite suddenly the murderer appeared in their midst。 The Marquis himself was sunk in deep musings； the mother and daughter were silent； the one from keen curiosity； the other from sheer astonishment； so that the visitor was almost half…way across the room when he spoke to the General。
〃Sir； the two hours are almost over；〃 he said； in a voice that was strangely calm and musical。
〃/You here/！〃 cried the General。 〃By what means？〃 and he gave wife and daughter a formidable questioning glance。 Helene grew red as fire。
〃You！〃 he went on； in a tone filled with horror。 〃/You/ among us！ A murderer covered with blood！ You are a blot on this picture！ Go； go out！〃 he added in a burst of rage。
At that word 〃murderer；〃 the Marquise cried out； as for Helene； it seemed to mark an epoch in her life； there was not a trace of surprise in her face。 She looked as if she had been waiting for thisfor him。 Those so vast thoughts of hers had found a meaning。 The punishment reserved by Heaven for her sins flamed out before her。 In her own eyes she was as great a criminal as this murderer； she confronted him with her quiet gaze； she was his fellow； his sister。 It seemed to her that in this accident the command of God had been made manifest。 If she had been a few years older； reason would have disposed of her remorse； but at this moment she was like one distraught。
The stranger stood impassive and self…possessed； a scornful smile overspread his features and his thick； red lips。
〃You appreciate the magnanimity of my behavior very badly；〃 he said slowly。 〃I would not touch with my fingers the glass of water you brought me to allay my thirst； I did not so much as think of washing my blood…stained hands under your roof； I am going away； leaving nothing of /my crime/〃 （here his lips were compressed） 〃but the memory； I have tried to leave no trace of my presence in this house。 Indeed； I would not even allow your daughter to〃
〃/My daughter/！〃 cried the General； with a horror…stricken glance at Helene。 〃Vile wretch； go； or I will kill you〃
〃The two hours are not yet over；〃 said the other； 〃if you kill me or give me up； you must lower yourself in your own eyesand in mine。〃
At these last words； the General turned to stare at the criminal in dumb amazement； but he could not endure the intolerable light in those eyes which for the second time disorganized his being。 He was afraid of showing weakness once more； conscious as he was that his will was weaker already。
〃An old man！ You can never have seen a family；〃 he said； with a father's glance at his wife and children。
〃Yes； an old man；〃 echoed the stranger； frowning slightly。
〃Fly！〃 cried the General； but he did not dare to look at his guest。 〃Our compact is broken。 I shall not kill you。 No！ I will never be purveyor to the scaffold。 But go out。 You make us shudder。〃
〃I know that；〃 said the other patiently。 〃There is not a spot on French soil where I can set foot and be safe； but if man's justice； like God's； took all into account； if man's justice deigned to inquire which was the monsterthe murderer or his victimthen I might hold up my head among my fellows。 Can you not guess that other crimes preceded that blow from an axe？ I constituted myself his judge and executioner； I stepped in where man's justice failed。 That was my crime。 Farewell； sir。 Bitter though you have made your hospitality； I shall not forget it。 I shall always bear in my heart a feeling of gratitude towards one man in the world； and you are that man。 。 。 。 But I could wish that you had showed yourself more generous！〃
He turned towards the door； but in the same instant Helene leaned to whisper something in her mother's ear。
〃Ah！ 。 。 。〃
At the cry that broke from his wife； the General trembled as if he had seen Moina lying dead。 There stood Helene and the murderer had turned instinctively； with something like anxiety about these folk in his face。
〃What is it； dear？〃 asked the General。
〃Helene wants to go with him。〃
The murderer's face flushed。
〃If that is how my mother understands an almost involuntary exclamation；〃 Helene said in a low voice； 〃I will fulfil her wishes。 She glanced about her with something like fierce pride； then the girl's eyes fell； and she stood； admirable in her modesty。
〃Helene； did you go up to the room where？〃
〃Yes； father。〃
〃Helene〃 （and his voice shook with a convulsive tremor）； 〃is this the first time that you have seen this man？〃
〃Yes； father。〃
〃Then it is not natural that you should intend to〃
〃If it is not natural； father； at any rate it is true。〃
〃Oh！ child；〃 said the Marquise； lowering her voice； but not so much but that her husband could hear her； 〃you are false to all the principles of honor； modesty； and right which I have tried to cultivate in your heart。 If until this fatal hour you life has only been one lie； there is nothing to regret in your loss。 It can hardly be the moral perfection of this stranger that attracts you to him？ Can it be t