I must not even ask myself till I have lived a little
longer, seen more...."
The other moved her head appreciatively. The purring of the cat had
a loud complacency in the empty hall. No sound of voices came from
upstairs. Miss Haldin broke the silence.
"What is it precisely that you heard people say about my brother? You
said that they were surprised. Yes, I supposed they were. Did it not
seem strange to them that my brother should have failed to save himself
after the most difficult part--that is, getting away from the spot--was
over? Conspirators should understand these things well. There are
reasons why I am very anxious to know how it is he failed to escape."
The _dame de compagnie_ had advanced to the open hall-door. She glanced
rapidly over her shoulder at Miss Haldin, who remained within the hall.
"Failed to escape," she repeated absently. "Didn't he make the sacrifice
of his life? Wasn't he just simply inspired? Wasn't it an act of
abnegation? Aren't you certain?"
"What I am certain of," said Miss Haldin, "is that it was not an act
of despair. Have you not heard some opinion expressed here upon his
miserable capture?"
The _dame de compagnie_ mused for a while in the doorway.
"Did I hear? Of course, everything is discussed here. Has not all the
world been speaking about your brother? For my part, the mere mention
of his achievement plunges me into an envious ecstasy.
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