\"Verywell，\"Mrs。Traversassented，seriously。\"Butinthatcasewehadbetternotremaintogether。\"Sheasked，then，d’AlcacertogobelowandsitwithMr。Traverswhodidn’tliketobeleftalone。\"Thoughhe，too，doesn’tseemtowanttobetoldanything，\"sheadded，parenthetically，andwenton：\"ButImustaskyousomethingelse，Mr。d’Alcacer。Iproposetositdowninthischairandgotosleep——ifIcan。Willyoupromisetocallmeaboutfiveo’clock？Iprefernottospeaktoanyoneondeck，and，moreover，Icantrustyou。\"
Hebowedinsilenceandwentawayslowly。Mrs。Travers，turningherhead，perceivedasteadylightatthebrig’syard—arm，verybrightamongthetarnishedstars。Shewalkedaftandlookedoverthetaffrail。Itwasexactlylikethatothernight。Shehalfexpectedtohearpresentlythelow，ripplingsoundofanadvancingboat。Buttheuniverseremainedwithoutasound。Whensheatlastdroppedintothedeckchairshewasabsolutelyattheendofherpowerofthinking。\"Isupposethat’showthecondemnedmanagetogetsomesleeponthenightbeforetheexecution，\"shesaidtoherselfamomentbeforehereyelidsclosedasifunderaleadenhand。
Shewokeup，withherfacewetwithtears，outofavividdreamofLingardinchain—mailarmourandvaguelyrecallingaCrusader，butbare—headedandwalkingawayfromherinthedepthsofanimpossiblelandscape。Shehurriedontocatchupwithhimbutathrongofbarbarianswithenormousturbanscamebetweenthematthelastmomentandshelostsightofhimforeverintheflurryofaghastlysand—storm。Whatfrightenedhermostwasthatshehadnotbeenabletoseehisface。Itwasthenthatshebegantocryoverherhardfate。Whenshewokeupthetearswerestillrollingdownhercheeksandsheperceivedinthelightofthedeck—lampd’Alcacerarrestedalittlewayoff。
\"Didyouhavetospeaktome？\"sheasked。
\"No，\"saidd’Alcacer。\"Youdidn’tgivemetime。WhenIcameasfarasthisIfanciedIheardyousobbing。Itmusthavebeenadelusion。\"