Suffice it that this man came down to
a remote village, and there at risk, but, Heaven knows, basely
enough, found his way into his victim's home. Once there,
however, his heart began to fail him. Had he found the house
garrisoned by men, he might have pressed to his end with little
remorse. But he found there only two helpless loyal women; and I
say again that from the first hour of his entrance he sickened at
the work which he had in hand, the work which ill-fortune had
laid upon him. Still he pursued it. He had given his word; and
if there was one tradition of his race which this man had never
broken, it was that of fidelity to his side--to the man who paid
him. But he pursued it with only half his mind, in great misery,
if you will believe me; sometimes in agonies of shame.
Gradually, however, almost against his will, the drama worked
itself out before him, until he needed only one thing.
I looked at Mademoiselle, trembling. But her head was averted:
I could gather nothing from the outlines of her form; and I went
on.
'Do not misunderstand me,' I said in a lower voice.
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