Part 7 (1/2)

Paul entered, and closed the door behind him without taking his eyes from his mother. She rose from her seat as he came forward, as though to draw back. He came nearer, and bending low would have taken her hand, but she stepped backwards and withdrew it, while the flush darkened on her cheek.

”Mother, will you not give me your hand?” he asked, in a low and broken voice.

”No,” she answered sternly. ”Why have you come here?”

”To tell you my brother's story,” said Paul, drawing himself up and facing her. When he entered the room he had felt sorrow and pity for her, in spite of Cutter's account, and he would willingly have kneeled and kissed her hand. But her rough refusal brought vividly to his mind the situation.

”You have told me already, by your letter,” she replied. ”Have you found him, that you come here? Do you think I want to see you--you?” she repeated, with rising emphasis.

”I might think it natural that you should,” said Paul, very coldly. ”Be calm. I am going to-morrow. Had I supposed that you would meet me as you have, I should have spared myself the trouble of coming here.”

”Indeed you might!” she exclaimed scornfully. ”Have you come here to tell me how you did it?” Her voice trembled hysterically.

”Did what?” asked Paul, in the same cold tone. ”Do you mean to accuse me to my face of my brother's death, as your doctor says you do behind my back? And if you dare to do so, do you think I will permit it without defending myself?”

His mother looked at him for one moment; then, clasping her hands to her forehead, she staggered across the room, and hid her face in the cus.h.i.+ons of the sofa, moaning and crying aloud.

”Alexis, Alexis!” she sobbed. ”Ah--my beloved son--if only I could have seen your dear face once more--to close your eyes--and kiss you--those sweet eyes--oh, my boy, my boy! Where are you--my own child?”

She was beside herself with grief, and ceased to notice Paul's presence for some minutes, moaning, and tossing herself upon the sofa, and wringing her hands as the tears streamed down. Paul could not look unmoved on such a sight. He came near and touched her shoulder.

”You must not give up all hope, mother,” he said softly. ”He may yet come back.” He did not know what else to say, to comfort her.

”Come back?” she cried hysterically, suddenly sitting up and facing him.

”Come back, when you are standing there with his blood on your hands!

You murderer! You monster! Go--for G.o.d's sake, go! Don't touch me! Don't look at me!”

Paul was horrified at her violence, and could not believe that she was in her senses. But he had heard the words she had spoken, and the wound had entered into his soul. His look was colder than ever as he answered.

”You are evidently insane,” he said

”Go--go, I tell you! Let me never see you again!” cried the frantic woman, rising to her feet, and staring at him with wide and blood-shot eyes.

Paul went up to her, and quickly seizing her hands held them in his firm grip, without pressure, but so that she could not withdraw them.

”Mother,” he said, in low and distinct tones, ”I believe you are mad. If you are not, G.o.d forgive you, and grant that you may forget what you have said. I am as innocent of Alexander's death--if indeed he is dead--as you are yourself.”

She seemed awed by his manner, and spoke more quietly.

”Where is he, then? Paul, where is your brother?”

”I cannot tell where he is. He left me and never returned, as the man who was with me can testify. I came here to tell you the story with my own lips. If you do not care to hear it, I will go, and you shall have your wish, for you need never see me again.” He released her hands, and turned from her as though to leave the room.

Madame Patoff's mood changed. Though Alexander was more like her, she possessed, too, some of the inexorable coldness which Paul had inherited so abundantly. She now drew herself up, and retired to the other side of the room. Paul's hand was on the door. Then she turned once more, and he saw that her face was as pale as death.

”Go,” she said, for the last time. ”And above all, do not come back.

Unless you can bring Alexis with you, and show him to me alive, I will always believe that you killed him, like the heartless, cruel monster you have been from a child.”

”Is that your last word, mother?” asked Paul, controlling his voice by a great effort.