rawn and haggard features, as though the physical
evidence of the torture and pain of one who had been near to death were
lost in the joy and wonder of life regained--is though his soul were in
his face.

It was long before Bidelot spoke.

"There are no words," he said. "It is what I dreamed and hoped that I
might see."

"It is Marie-Louise--his wife," said Father Anton softly. "It is his
statue of dreams, with the base at last that he could never see before."

There were tears upon old Bidelot's cheeks.

"I understand," he said. "It is Jean himself." He moved closer to the
figures, and stood silent again. "It is a priceless thing," he said
presently. "It is not himself alone; it is the womanhood of France,
pure in her courage and her love, immortal in her sacrifice, that is
the inspiration, the life, the anchorage, the guiding star, the hope of
France itself! Ah, my friend"--the grizzled head was high, the eyes
were shining with pride and a glad excitement--"I speak for this for
France. All must see it--the France as yet unborn, the children when
we are dead and gone who shall serve their country better for the
masterpiece of Jean Laparde and the story that it tells. I go
to-night! I go to-night to Bernay-sur-Mer to Jean--to speak for this
for France!"

Father Anton made no answer; but he stooped and from the pedestal of
the group removed the cloths that, as though they had fallen in a
careless heap when the figures had been uncovered, were bedded around
it. He was smiling through misty eyes, as he stood up again.

"It was the message that I had for you," he said. "Read!"

And Bidelot, bending forward, read the words that were carved there in
the clay:

TO FRANCE--FROM JEAN LAPARDE

THE END

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Beloved Traitor, by Frank L. Packard

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