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Show ,:•;: • - 1 7 5 - CHAPTER XXVI From out of the shadows emerged a figure. He resembled some vile apparition- that had appeared out of nowhere. Even the faint light could riot conceal the sinister and diabolical look on,his partly hidden face. Who was he? Vicky recognized him instantly. He was the man who had spoken to her at the mail box. Penny had a vague feeling of having seen him before, but could not place him in her mind. Chang Lin whirlea around and said in a-sharp voice. "Andre1 Junot, what are you doing here? I see the years have not treated you well." The face was decadent and dissipated looking. His once handsome features looked many years older than his actual age. In his hand was the inevitable pistol. Penny could not believe that this was the young and aristocratic Frenchman that Claudine had married. Andre' ignored the old man and addressed Dirk. "Fate has ordained that ve should meet again, Monsieur Dirk Vallone,on this predestined night. I have traveled the world over, seeking respite from the tormented memories of the night I killed Claudine. No matter where I went and how many foul deeds I committed, trying to blot out her face from my mind, I could not succeed. She has haunted me throughout the years and has followed me where-evcr I went. I could not rest. I left my family and wandered over the face of the earth. My life became a constant nightmore of depravity. Yes, I may not have gone to prison for what I did, but I have paid a thousand times over for my crimes." As he spoke Andre's face became contorted with anger and fraustratidn. "For some reason, I had a premonition that you would return so I was drawn back to this place of my undoing. Something told me that you two would attempt to be reconciled again. This, I will never allow. I told you once and I tell you again, you can never have Claudine. She is my wife and will be forever. The years have not dimmed my hate for you. |