"But Blanquette—it would break her heart."
"All women's hearts can be mended for twopence."
"And men's?"
"They have to go about with them broken, my son, and the pieces clank and jangle and chink and jingle inside like a crate of broken crockery. We leave Aix tomorrow."
"But Master," I cried, "there is no necessity."
"What do you mean?"
"She is leaving Aix herself tomorrow."
"She!" he shouted, quite sober for the moment. "Who the devil do you mean by 'she'?"
I upbraided myself for a vain idiot. Here was I on the point of breaking my oath sworn on Joanna's hand. I felt ashamed and frightened. He grasped my shoulder roughly.
"Who do you mean by 'she'? Tell me."