Mr。Sabinwasforamomentveryseriousindeed。Theadvicegiveninsuchamannerwasfullofforebodingstohim。Thelinesfromthecornersofhismouthseemedgravenintohisface。
“Felix，“hesaidslowly，“IamsometimesconsciousofthefactthatIampassingintothatperiodoflifewhichwecalloldage。Myambitionsaredead，myenergiesareweakened。FormanyyearsIhavetoiled-thetimehascomeforrest。OfallthegreatpassionswhichIhavefeltthereremainsbutone-Lucille。Lifewithoutherisworthnothingtome。Iamwearyofsolitude，IamwearyofeverythingexceptLucille。HowthencanIlistentosuchadvice？
FormeitmustbeLucille，orthatlittlejourneyintothemists，fromwhichonedoesnotreturn。“
Felixwassilent。Thepathosofthisthingtouchedhim。
“Iwillnotdisputetherightofthosewhohavetakenherfromme，“