They told me the sight had been wonderful, but what was that to me
when Clement Darpent stood before me? He looked then and worn, and
almost doubtful how to address me; but Lady Ommaney said, in her
hearty way:
'Come, come, young folks, you have enough to say to one another. Sit
down there and leave the ox to the children and us old folks in our
second childhood. You believe and old woman now, M. Darpent?'
'You never distrusted me?' I demanded.
He said he had never distrusted my heart, but that he had heard at
all hands of the arrangement with M. de Poligny, whose lawyer had
actually stopped proceedings on that account. My brother had indeed
assured him that he did not mean to consent; and he ought, he
allowed, to have rested satisfied with that assurance, but---He
faltered a little, which made me angry. The truth was that some
cruel person had spoken to him as if my dear Eustace and his
protection would soon be removed; and while Solivet was at hand,
Eustace, in his caution, he refrained from such intercourse with
Clement as could excite suspicion. Besides, he was a good deal away
at St. Germain with the Duke. All this I did not understand. I was
vexed with Clement for having seemed to doubt us, and I did not
refrain from showing my annoyance that he should have accepted any
kind of office in the rotten French State. It seemed to me a fall
from his dignity. On this he told me that it was not purchased, and
it was serving under a true and loyal man, whom he felt bound to
support.
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