And, after all, she was
like the rest--a little cleverer, a little colder--but, like the
rest.
While his arms were still round her, his quick mind leapt forward to
the future, wondering already to what end this would lead them. For
a moment he was taken aback. He was over the last of those barriers
which are so easy from the outside and unclimbable from within. She
had thrust into his hands a power greater than, for the moment, he
knew how to wield. It was characteristic of him to think first
whither it would lead him, and next how he could turn it to good
account.
Some instinct told him that this was a different love from any that
he had met before. The same instinct made him understand that it
was crying aloud to be convinced; and, oddly enough, he had told her
the truth.
"See," he said, "here is a copy of the list, and your father's name
is not on it. See, here is Napoleon's letter, expressing
satisfaction with my work here and in Konigsberg, where I have been
served by an agent of my own choosing. Many have climbed to a
throne with less than that letter for their first step. See . . .
!" he opened another drawer. It was full of money.
"See, again!" he said with a low laugh, and from an iron chest he
took two or three bags which fell upon the table with the discreet
unmistakable chink of gold. "That is the Emperor's. He trusts me,
you see. These bags are mine. They are to be sent back to France
before I follow the army to Russia.
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