"It is true," she said brokenly. "You had a wicked heart, Monsieur.
You, you have brought about all this misery. You have wantonly cast a
shadow upon my life."
"Have I done that? Well, that is something . . . something."
"I forgive you."
"Eh? I am growing deaf!" He reeled toward the door, and the men made
way for him. "I am growing blind, besides." He braced himself against
the jamb of the door. "My faith! it is a pretty world. . . . I regret
to leave it." He stared across the lake, but he could see nothing. A
page of his youth came back.
"Monsieur," said Chaumonot, "you have many sins upon your soul. Shall
I give you absolution?"
"Absolution?" The vicomte's lips grimaced; it might have been an
attempt to smile. "Absolution for me? Where is Brother Jacques? That
would be droll. . . . Those eyes! Absolution? That for your heaven,"
snapping his fingers, "and that for your hell. I know. It is all
silence. There is nothing. I wonder. . . ." His knees suddenly
refused to support the weight of his body. He raised himself upon his
hands. The trees were merging together; the lake was red and blurred.
"Gabrielle, Gabrielle, I loved you after my own fashion! . . . The
devil take that grey cloak!" And the vicomte's lawless soul went forth.
The men took the three bodies and placed them in the canoes. They were
somewhat rough with the vicomte's.
"Gently, my brothers," said Nicot. "He was a rascal, but he was a man."
Madame and the Chevalier were alone. To both of them it seemed as
though years had passed. Madame was weary. She would have liked to
lie down and sleep . . . forever. The Chevalier brushed his eyes. He
was a man. Weeping over death and in pity was denied him. At present
he was incapable of accepting the full weight of the catastrophe. His
own agony was too recent. Everything was vague and dreamy. His head
ached painfully from the blow he had received in the fight.
"What did he do to you?" he asked, scarce knowing what he said.
"He kissed me; kissed me on the mouth, Monsieur." She wiped her lips
again. "It is of no use. It will always be there."
"You are Madame de Brissac?"
"Yes." The hopelessness of her tone chilled him.
"And you loved Victor?"
Her head drooped. She was merely tired; but he accepted this as an
affirmative answer.
"It would have been well, Madame, had I died in his place."
"Let us go," she said; "they are calling."
That was all.
Victor lay in the living-room of the fort. A shroud covered all but
his face. A little gold crucifix, belonging to Father Chaumonot, lay
against his lips. Candles burned at his head and at his feet. There
was quiet in his breast, peace on his boyish face.