Gering picked up the sword, found the
belt and sheath, and stepped to the doorway with his wife. Here he
paused as if he would speak to Iberville: he was ready now for final
peace. But Iberville's eyes looked resolutely away, and Gering sighed
and passed into the hallway. Now the wife stood beside Iberville. She
looked at him steadily, but at first he would not meet her eye.
Presently, however, he did so.
"Good-bye," she said brokenly, "I shall always remember--always."
His reply was bitter. "Good-bye, madame: I shall forget."
She made a sad little gesture and passed on, but presently turned, as if
she could not bear that kind of parting, and stretched out her hands to
him.
"Monsieur--Pierre!" she cried, in a weak, choking voice.
With hot frank impulse he caught both her hands in his and kissed them.
"I shall--remember," he said, with great gentleness.
Then they passed from the hallway, and he was alone. He stood looking at
the closed door, but after a moment went to the table, sat down, and
threw his head forward in his arms.
An hour afterwards, when Count Frontenac entered upon him, he was still
in the same position.
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