“Wait, Menard. I don’t know what to say. I must have time to think. If you wish, I will not give notice of your arrival to the Governor. I will leave the matter of reporting in your hands.” He rose, and fingered the papers on the table. “You see how it will look––there is the maid––La Grange seeks your life, you seek his––” 389
Menard drew himself up, his hat in his hand.
“It shall be pushed to the end, Major. You know me; you know Captain la Grange. There will be excitement, perhaps,––you may find it hard to avoid taking one side or the other. I must ask which side is to be yours.”
D’Orvilliers winced, and for a moment stood biting his lip; then he stepped forward and took both Menard’s hands.
“You shouldn’t have asked that,” he said. “God bless you, Menard! God bless you!”
Menard paused in the door, and turned.
“Shall I need a pass to enter the hospital?”
“Oh, you can’t go there. La Grange is there.”
“Yes; I will report to him. He shall not say that I have left it to hearsay.”
“But he will attack you!”