"You must not, you cannot desert me; I will not be left like this. No
man, no gentleman would do it. I beg and implore you to remain within
reach, somewhere near at any rate. I can never face this place alone."
Her last appeal touched me to the quick. Once more I sought to explain
the dire necessity for this act that seemed so barbarous, but she was
deaf to all my arguments, and still clung to me nervously as I climbed
into the carriage.
When at length I got away, and I persisted in leaving, being so fully
satisfied it was for the best, her piteous, reproachful accents still
rung in my ears, and I shall count that return drive to Aix as the
most miserable hour I have passed in my life.
The whole episode had occupied much time, and it was already past one
when I reentered the town. I drove straight to the railway station,
and was met outside it by the faithful l'Echelle.
"Monsieur, monsieur, will you believe it? They have gone half an hour
ago, and not by the eastern but the western express."
"You saw them?"
"I spoke to them. Falfani himself told me of the change in their
plans.
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