seam remains--from time to time it aches--but the
victim's life is saved that he may save, serve, gladden his fellow men.
Would you rather I should weep, or force a smile, and appear happy for a
period? In any case, since I have cured the injury and she is in my
house again, I shall not retaliate on her. But if she threatens to
become a public danger--if she bares her poisonous fangs to harm my
friend--my son--another--let her beware!"

"Master," stammered Antonino, beginning to see the temptress in the new
light, as Felix had often shown him other objects to which he had been
blind, "you may or may not judge her too harshly, but you certainly
judge me too leniently. Better to let me go away, and far, or at least,
since you began the revelation, make the evidence complete of your trust
and esteem."

Clemenceau saw that the young man still believed in Cesarine, but he did
not care to tell him all he knew of her. Had he been told that she had
encouraged Gratian to flee with her and had abandoned him at the first
danger, without lifting a finger to save him, or her voice to procure
him succor, he might loathe and hate her; but Clemenceau meant to say
nothing. Such revelations, and denunciations are permissible alone to
wrath, revenge, or despair, in the man whose heart is still bleeding
from the wound made in it so that his outburst is sealed by his blood.

"No, Antonino, by my mouth no one shall ever know all that woman has
done--or what victories I have won over myself--in severe wrestlings."

"I see you have forgiven her," said the Italian, advancing the virtue in
which he was deficient.

"I have expunged her from my heart," answered Clemenceau firmly. "She is
a picture on only one page of my life-book, and I do not open it there.
Knowing my secret, you are the last person to whom I shall speak of
Cesarine's misdeeds. I wish your deliverance, like mine, to be owed to
your will, but you are free and have been forewarned, so that you will
have less effort to make than I. Let the scarlet woman go by and do not
step across her path. Between two smiles, she will dishonor you or deal
death to you! She slays like a dart of Satan. That is all you need know.
But, as, indeed, you deserve a token of esteem and confidence from your
frankness, affection and labors, I will give you one."

Having seated himself, he drew from an inner pocket a paper written in
odd characters.

"The time of my giving you the proof of trust shoul