The Lane That Had No Turning | Page 6

resentment, he saw in the Governor's words a
consideration for himself based only on the fact that he was the
husband of the great singer. He trembled to his feet.
At that moment there was a cheering outside--great cheering--but he
did not heed it; he was scarcely aware of it. If it touched his
understanding at all, it only meant to him a demonstration in honour of
the Governor.
"Loyalty to the flag of England, your Excellency!" he said, in a hoarse
acrid voice--"you speak of loyalty to us whose lives for two
centuries--" He paused, for he heard a voice calling his name.
"Louis! Louis! Louis!"
The fierce words he had been about to utter died on his lips, his eyes
stared at the open window, bewildered and even frightened.
"Louis! Louis!"
Now the voice was inside the house. He stood trembling, both hands
grasping the arms of the chair. Every eye in the room was now turned
towards the door. As it opened, the Seigneur sank back in the chair, a
look of helpless misery, touched by a fierce pride, covering his face.
"Louis!"
It was Madelinette, who, disregarding the assembled company, ran
forward to him and caught both his hands in hers.
"O Louis, I have heard of your accident, and--" she stopped suddenly
short. The Governor turned away his head. Every person in the room
did the same. For as she bent over him--she saw. She saw for the first
time; for the first time knew!
A look of horrified amazement, of shrinking anguish, crossed over her

face. He felt the lightning-like silence, he knew that she had seen; he
struggled to his feet, staring fiercely at her.
That one torturing instant had taken all the colour from her face, but
there was a strange brightness in her eyes, a new power in her bearing.
She gently forced him into the seat again.
"You are not strong enough, Louis. You must be tranquil."
She turned now to the Governor. He made a sign to his suite, who,
bowing, slowly left the room. "Permit me to welcome you to your
native land again, Madame," he said. "You have won for it a distinction
it could never have earned, and the world gives you many honours."
She was smiling and still, and with one hand clasping her husband's,
she said:
"The honour I value most my native land has given me: I am lady of
the Manor here, and wife of the Seigneur Racine."
Agitated triumph came upon Louis Racine's face; a weird painful
vanity entered into him. He stood up beside his wife, as she turned and
looked at him, showing not a sign that what she saw disturbed her.
"It is no mushroom honour to be Seigneur of Pontiac, your
Excellency," he said, in a tone that jarred. "The barony is two hundred
years old. By rights granted from the crown of France, I am Baron of
Pontiac."
"I think England has not yet recognised the title," said the Governor
suggestively, for he was here to make peace, and in the presence of this
man, whose mental torture was extreme, he would not allow himself to
be irritated.
"Our baronies have never been recognised," said the Seigneur harshly.
"And yet we are asked to love the flag of England and--"
"And to show that we are too proud to ask for a right that none can take

away," interposed Madelinette graciously and eagerly, as though to
prevent Louis from saying what he intended. All at once she had had to
order her life anew, to replace old thoughts by new ones. "We honour
and obey the rulers of our land, and fly the English flag, and welcome
the English Governor gladly when he comes to us--will your
Excellency have some refreshment?" she added quickly, for she saw
the cloud on the Seigneur's brow. "Louis," she added quickly, "will
you--"
"I have ordered refreshment," said the Seigneur excitedly, the storm
passing from his face, however. "Havel, Tardif--where are you,
fellows!" He stamped his foot imperiously.
Havel entered with a tray of wine and glasses, followed by Tardif
loaded with cakes and comfits, and set them on the table.
Ten minutes later the Governor took his leave. At the front door he
stopped surprised, for a guard of honour of twenty men were drawn up.
He turned to the Seigneur.
"What soldiers are these?" he asked.
"The Seigneury company, your Excellency," replied Louis.
"What uniform is it they wear?" he asked in an even tone, but with a
black look in his eye, which did not escape Madelinette.
"The livery of the Barony of Pontiac," answered the Seigneur.
The Governor looked at them a moment without speaking. "It is French
uniform of the time of Louis Quinze," he said. "Picturesque,