What a scarecrow he was with his twisted leg, all the
same he might very well serve her purpose. -, r
She glanced at Christophe, expectant, delighted,
half whore and half child in her obvious elationfr
'Christophe, tu es tellement beau — tellement beau
avec ton clair regard/ she whispered cChristophe . . .*
But he seemed to be very far away. His face looked
puzzled and rather anxious as though he were trying
to recapture the thread of something that he only
imperfectly remembered.
Beauvais took his leave, and when he had gone they
also got up and left the cafe. Between them the
cousins paid for the wine.
eLet us walk a little way out of the town; it is hot
to lie in our beds,' said Jiliana, 'and besides I am
feeling very wide awake.' She was thinking: CI will
tell him now about Louis; not quite all, $a non, but
enough, just enough.' Aloud she said: CI have some-
thing to confess; a long time I have wished to make
this confession.'
But ^Eliana delayed her confession until they
had left the houses behind them and were sitting
upon a low wayside bank. They could see the black
masterful curves of the Maures rising superbly
towards a sky that was pale and opalescent with
moonlight.
Then she said: 'You shall be my father confessors,
you shall listen and give me your absolution. Chris-
tophe—Jan—I have told a very big falsehood in order
to spare your Eusebe. I did not tell him the truth
when I came here; I lied about leaving my situation.
I did not leave, Madame turned me out. Her dear son
Louis had come back from the front and was staying
at the chateau with his wife — she was pretty, his wife;
they had not long been married. Ma foi, she was
pretty enough to content him, but no3 he must take
a fancy to me, must always be wanting to kiss me
405