An instant later he stooped,
lifted up the ladder beside him, and let it down to the floor of the
flume.
"There, go--for ever," he said.
Then he turned away with bowed head. He staggered as he stepped down
from the bridge of the flume, where the lever was. He swayed from side
to side. Then he raised his head and looked towards his house. His
child lived there--his Zoe.
"Moi je suis philosophe !" he said brokenly.
After a moment or two, as he stumbled on, he said it again--"Me, I am a
philosopher!"
CHAPTER X
"QUIEN SABE"--WHO KNOWS!
This much must be said for George Masson, that after the terrible
incident at the flume he would have gone straight to the Manor Cartier
to warn Carmen, if it had been possible, though perhaps she already knew.
But there was Jean Jacques on his way back to the Manor, and nothing
remained but to proceed to Laplatte, and give the woman up for ever. He
had no wish to pull up stakes again and begin life afresh, though he was
only forty, and he had plenty of initiative left. But if he had to go,
he would want to go alone, as he had done before. Yes, he would have
liked to tell Carmen that Jean Jacques knew everything; but it was
impossible.
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