“Owing to Nathalie,” murmured Claire.
”—And only flight remains.”
Léon lifted his head and looked at her with feverish eyes.
“You must fly, my son. Apparently there are countries where you will be safe; I do not know which they are, but that can be ascertained. You must start at once, telling no one and going alone, until your wife can safely join you. This is the only way of escaping the worst degradation. Claire, you have a good head; do you not think with me?”
“It is the one thing he can do for us,” said Claire, rigidly.
“Félicie?”
Félicie nodded, but was weeping too much to speak. Léon had buried his head in his hands, and his wife knelt by him, her eyes fixed on Mme. de Beaudrillart’s face.
“You see we are all agreed, Léon,” his mother went on, vanquishing a catch in her voice. “My son, remember what you owe to your name, and act. Where will you go? to Bordeaux or Marseilles? If you could reach America—” Her voice failed, she stood trembling, while her lips formed the words she had not strength to utter. As for Léon, with a mute gesture of despair he turned and hid his face against his wife’s arm. The little dependent action gave her words. She started to her feet, her tall figure swaying, her whole frame one passionate protest.
“You forget me, madame! I am not agreed. I say that he did not do this shameful thing, and that he shall not fly from it as if he were a coward. A De Beaudrillart a coward! Because there is one act of which he is ashamed, you want him to own to what is a hundred times worse! Léon, do not listen to them! For Raoul’s sake, do not listen to them! Dear love, be brave, live it down!” She dropped again by his side, gathering him to her heart, and with quivering lips kissing his hair, his hands. Claire would have answered angrily, but her mother stopped her.
“You have a right to be heard,” she said to the young wife, “and we have, perhaps, all too much forgotten that you suffer too. But let us clearly understand each other. What is it that you suggest? That—that he submits to arrest?” Her voice dropped miserably.