"Not as you mean, Vere."
"You are sure? You are certain?"
"Not in that way."
"But then I heard Madre come out and go to her bedroom. I didn't hear
whether she locked the door. I only heard it shut. But Gaspare says he
knows it is locked. Two or three minutes after the door was shut I
heard--I heard--"
"Don't be afraid. Tell me--if I ought to know."
Those words voiced a deep and delicate reluctance which was beginning
to invade him. Yet he wished to help Vere, to release this child from
the thrall of a terror which could only be conquered if it were
expressed.
"Tell me," he added, slowly.
"I heard Madre--Monsieur Emile, it was hardly crying!"
"Don't. You needn't tell me any more."
"Gaspare heard it too. It went on for a long, long time. We--Gaspare
made the servants keep downstairs ever since. And I--I have been
waiting for you to come, because Madre cares for you."
Artois put his hand down quickly upon Vere's right hand.
"I am glad that you sent for me, Vere.
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