When brought face to face with the Abbe he lifted his
head, and flashed his dark eyes upon him with a look of withering
contempt. His lips parted,--he seemed about to speak when his glance
accidentally fell upon Manuel,--then something caused him to
hesitate,--he checked himself on the very verge of speech and
remained silent. The Abbe surveyed him with something of a quizzical
half-admiring smile, then addressing the gendarmes he said,
"Let him go!"
The men looked up astonished, doubting whether they had heard
aright.
"Let him go!" repeated the Abbe firmly, "I have no accusation to
make against him. Had he killed me he would have been perfectly
justified! Let him go!"
"Cher Abbe!" remonstrated the Marquis Fontenelle, who had made
himself one of the group immediately around the pulpit, "Is not this
a mistake on your part? Let me advise you not to be so merciful . . ."
"'Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy'"! quoted the
Abbe with a strange smile, while his breath came and went quickly,
and his face grew paler as he spoke. "Set him free, messieurs, if
you please! I decline to prosecute my own flesh and blood! I will be
answerable for his future conduct,--I am entirely answerable for his
past! He is my son!"
XIV.
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