He rode to Kérnak building fresh castles, and reached his home to find that the man who had been so much in his thoughts had but now left it.
The story was told by Madame his mother, with Cécile standing by, a smile hovering around her pretty lips.
But, alas! the smile had died all too soon, frozen out of being by her brother's answering words.
A traitor, double-dyed in hue,—a traitor to his country, to his people, to his own kith and kin!
Liar and dishonoured he seemed to stand before her, as Jéhan poured forth his tale in the first fury of his wrath.
What! Had the vaurien hound dared shelter under his roof? dared to tell his lying tale to them?
The young Count paced the hall to and fro in his anger.
He would have forgotten that Morice Conyers was Gabrielle's brother had he met him at that moment.
It ended by Cécile suddenly bursting into a tempest of tears, and running out of the room. This had been the last straw to an overfull cup.
Mother and son looked at each other for a full minute, and then Madame de Quernais held out trembling hands.