“There, there!” he hurriedly and gently rejoined. “Do not be hurt, my child. I only want to help you.” A moment afterwards he was gone.
As the door closed behind him, she drew herself proudly up.
“I have never been deceived,” she said aloud. “I love him—love him—love him.”
CHAPTER LIV. M. ROSSIGNOL SLIPS THE LEASH
It was the last day of the Passion Play, and the great dramatic mission was drawing to a close. The confidence of the Cure and the Seigneur was restored. The prohibition against strangers had had its effect, and for three whole days the valley had been at rest again. Apparently there was not a stranger within its borders, save the Seigneur’s brother, the Abbe Rossignol, who had come to see the moving spectacle.
The Abbe, on his arrival, had made inquiries concerning the tailor of Chaudiere and Jo Portugais, as persistently about the one as the other. Their secrets had been kept inviolate by him.
It was disconcerting to hear the tales people told of the tailor’s charity and wisdom. It was all dangerous, for what was, accidentally, no evil in this particular instance, might be the greatest disaster in another case. Principle was at stake. He heard in stern silence the Cure’s happy statement that Jo Portugais had returned to the bosom of the Church, and attended Mass regularly.
“So it may be, my dear Abbe,” said M. Loisel, “that the friendship between him and our ‘infidel’ has been the means of helping Portugais. I hope their friendship will go on unbroken for years and years.”
“I have no idea that it will,” said the Abbe grimly. “That rope of friendship may snap untimely.”