\"Talk？Idon’tunderstand，\"saidLingard，slowly。
ButBelarabhadturnedtowardhisthreeattendantsinwhiterobes，withshavenpollsunderskull—capsofplaitedgrass，withprayerbeadshangingfromtheirwrists，andanairofsuperiorcalmontheirdarkfaces：companionsofhisdesperatedays，menofbloodonceandnowimperturbableintheirpietyandwisdomoftrustedcounsellors。
\"Thiswhitemanisbeingbetrayed，\"hemurmuredtothemwiththegreatestcomposure。
D’Alcacer，uncomprehending，watchedthescene：theManofFatepuzzledandfiercelikeadisturbedlion，thewhite—robedMoors，themultitudeofhalf—nakedbarbarians，squattingbytheguns，standingbytheloopholesintheimmobilityofanarrangeddisplay。HesawMrs。Traversontheverandahoftheprisoners’
house，ananxiousfigurewithawhitescarfoverherhead。Mr。
Traverswasnodoubttooweakafterhisfitoffevertocomeoutside。Ifithadn’tbeenforthat，allthewhiteswouldhavebeeninsightofeachotherattheverymomentofthecatastrophewhichwastogivethembacktotheclaimsoftheirlife，atthecostofotherlivessentviolentlyoutoftheworld。D’AlcacerheardLingardaskingloudlyforthelongglassandsawBelarabmakeasignwithhishand，whenhefelttheearthreceiveaviolentblowfromunderneath。Whilehestaggeredtoittheheavenssplitoverhisheadwithacrashinthelickofaredtongueofflame；andasuddendreadfulgloomfellallroundthestunnedd’Alcacer，whobeheldwithterrorthemorningsun，robbedofitsrays，glowdullandbrownthroughthesombremurkwhichhadtakenpossessionoftheuniverse。TheEmmahadblownup；andwhentherainofshatteredtimbersandmangledcorpsesfallingintothelagoonhadceased，thecloudofsmokehangingmotionlessunderthelividsuncastitsshadowafarontheShoreofRefugewhereallstrifehadcometoanend。
AgreatwailofterrorascendedfromtheSettlementandwassucceededbyaprofoundsilence。Peoplecouldbeseenboltinginunreasoningpanicawayfromthehousesandintothefields。Onthelagoontheraftofboatshadbrokenup。Someofthemweresinking，otherspaddlingawayinalldirections。WhatwasleftabovewateroftheEmmahadburstintoaclearflameundertheshadowofthecloud，thegreatsmokycloudthathungsolidandunstirringabovethetopsoftheforest，visibleformilesupanddownthecoastandovertheShallows。
ThefirstpersontorecoverinsidethestockadewasBelarabhimself。Mechanicallyhemurmuredtheexclamationofwonder，\"Godisgreat，\"andlookedatLingard。ButLingardwasnotlookingathim。Theshockoftheexplosionhadrobbedhimofspeechandmovement。HestaredattheEmmablazinginadistantandinsignificantflameunderthesinistershadowofthecloudcreatedbyJorgenson’smistrustandcontemptforthelifeofmen。
Belarabturnedaway。Hisopinionhadchanged。HeregardedLingardnolongerasabetrayedmanbuttheeffectwasthesame。Hewasnolongeramanofanyimportance。WhatBelarabreallywantednowwastoseeallthewhitepeopleclearoutofthelagoonassoonaspossible。PresentlyheorderedthegatetobethrownopenandhisarmedmenpouredouttotakepossessionoftheSettlement。
LaterTengga’shousesweresetonfireandBelarab，mountingafierypony，issuedforthtomakeatriumphalprogresssurroundedbyagreatcrowdofheadmenandguards。
Thatnightthewhitepeopleleftthestockadeinacortegeoftorchbearers。Mr。Travershadtobecarrieddowntothebeach，wheretwoofBelarab’swar—boatsawaitedtheirdistinguishedpassengers。Mrs。Traverspassedthroughthegateond’Alcacer’sarm。Herfacewashalfveiled。Shemovedthroughthethrongofspectatorsdisplayedinthetorchlightlookingstraightbeforeher。Belarab，standinginfrontofagroupofheadmen，pretendednottoseethewhitepeopleastheywentby。WithLingardheshookhands，murmuringtheusualformulasoffriendship；andwhenheheardthegreatwhitemansay，\"Youshallneverseemeagain，\"
hefeltimmenselyrelieved。Belarabdidnotwanttoseethatwhitemanagain，butasherespondedtothepressureofLingard’shandhehadagravesmile。
\"Godaloneknowsthefuture，\"hesaid。
Lingardwalkedtothebeachbyhimself，feelingastrangertoallmenandabandonedbytheAll—KnowingGod。BythattimethefirstboatwithMr。andMrs。Travershadalreadygotawayoutoftheblood—redlightthrownbythetorchesuponthewater。D’AlcacerandLingardfollowedinthesecond。Presentlythedarkshadeofthecreek，walledinbytheimpenetrableforest，closedroundthemandthesplashofthepaddlesechoedinthestill，dampair。
\"Howdoyouthinkthisawfulaccidenthappened？\"askedd’Alcacer，whohadbeensittingsilentbyLingard’sside。
\"Whatisanaccident？\"saidLingardwithagreateffort。\"Wheredidyouhearofsuchathing？Accident！Don’tdisturbme，Mr。
d’Alcacer。Ihavejustcomebacktolifeandithasclosedonmecolderanddarkerthanthegraveitself。Letmegetused……I
can’tbearthesoundofahumanvoiceyet。\"
VIII
Andnow，stoicalinthecoldanddarknessofhisregainedlife，LingardhadtolistentothevoiceofWasubtellinghimJaffir’sstory。Theoldserang’sfaceexpressedaprofounddejectionandtherewasinfinitesadnessintheflowingmurmurofhiswords。
\"Yes，byAllah！Theywereallthere：thattyrannicalTengga，noisylikeafool；theRajahHassim，arulerwithoutacountry；
Daman，thewanderingchief，andthethreePangeransofthesea—robbers。Theycameonboardboldly，forTuanJorgensonhadgiventhempermission，andtheirtalkwasthatyou，Tuan，wereawillingcaptiveinBelarab’sstockade。TheysaidtheyhadwaitedallnightforamessageofpeacefromyouorfromBelarab。Buttherewasnothing，andwiththefirstsignofdaytheyputoutonthelagoontomakefriendswithTuanJorgenson；for，theysaid，you，Tuan，wereasifyouhadnotbeen，possessingnomorepowerthanadeadman，themereslaveofthesestrangewhitepeople，andBelarab’sprisoner。ThusTenggatalked。Godhadtakenfromhimallwisdomandallfear。AndthenhemusthavethoughthewassafewhileRajahHassimandtheladyImmadawereonboard。Itellyoutheysatthereinthemidstofyourenemies，captive！TheladyImmada，withherfacecovered，mournedtoherself。TheRajahHassimmadeasigntoJaffirandJaffircametostandbyhissideandtalkedtohislord。ThemainhatchwasopenandmanyoftheIllanunscrowdedtheretolookdownatthegoodsthatwereinsidetheship。Theyhadneverseensomuchlootintheirlives。JaffirandhislordcouldhearplainlyTuanJorgensonandTenggatalkingtogether。Tenggadiscoursedloudlyandhiswordswerethewordsofadoomedman，forhewasaskingTuanJorgensontogiveupthearmsandeverythingthatwasonboardtheEmmatohimselfandtoDaman。Andthen，hesaid，’WeshallfightBelarabandmakefriendswiththesestrangewhitepeoplebybehavinggenerouslytothemandlettingthemsailawayunharmedtotheirowncountry。Wedon’twantthemhere。You，TuanJorgenson，aretheonlywhitemanIcarefor。’TheyheardTuanJorgensonsaytoTengga：’Nowyouhavetoldmeeverythingthereisinyourmindyouhadbettergoashorewithyourfriendsandreturnto—morrow。’AndTenggaasked：
’Why！wouldyoufightmeto—morrowratherthanlivemanydaysinpeacewithme？’andhelaughedandslappedhisthigh。AndTuanJorgensonanswered：
\"’No，Iwon’tfightyou。Butevenaspiderwillgivetheflytimetosayitsprayers。’
\"TuanJorgenson’svoicesoundedverystrangeandlouderthaneveranybodyhadhearditbefore。ORajahLaut，Jaffirandthewhitemanhadbeenwaiting，too，allnightforsomesignfromyou；ashotfiredorasignal—fire，lightedtostrengthentheirhearts。
Therehadbeennothing。RajahHassim，whispering，orderedJaffirtotakethefirstopportunitytoleapoverboardandtaketoyouhismessageoffriendshipandgood—bye。DidtheRajahandJaffirknowwhatwascoming？Whocantell？ButwhatelsecouldtheyseethancalamityforallWajomen，whateverTuanJorgensonhadmadeuphismindtodo？Jaffirpreparedtoobeyhislord，andyetwithsomanyenemies’boatsinthewaterhedidnotthinkhewouldeverreachtheshore；andastoyourselfhewasnotatallsurethatyouwerestillalive。ButhesaidnothingofthistohisRajah。Nobodywaslookingtheirway。Jaffirpressedhislord’shandtohisbreastandwaitedhisopportunity。Thefogbegantoblowawayandpresentlyeverythingwasdisclosedtothesight。
Jorgensonwasonhisfeet，hewasholdingalightedcigarbetweenhisfingers。Tenggawassittinginfrontofhimononeofthechairsthewhitepeoplehadused。Hisfollowerswerepressingroundhim，withDamanandSentot，whoweremutteringincantations；andeventhePangeranshadmovedclosertothehatchway。Jaffir’sopportunityhadcomebuthelingeredbythesideofhisRajah。Intheclearairthesunshonewithgreatforce。TuanJorgensonlookedoncemoretowardBelarab’sstockade，ORajahLaut！Buttherewasnothingthere，notevenaflagdisplayedthathadnotbeentherebefore。Jaffirlookedthatway，too，andasheturnedhisheadhesawTuanJorgenson，inthemidstoftwentyspear—bladesthatcouldinaninstanthavebeendrivenintohisbreast，putthecigarinhismouthandjumpdownthehatchway。AtthatmomentRajahHassimgaveJaffirapushtowardthesideandJaffirleapedoverboard。
\"Hewasstillinthewaterwhenalltheworldwasdarkenedroundhimasifthelifeofthesunhadbeenblownoutofitinacrash。Agreatwavecamealongandwashedhimonshore，whilepiecesofwood，iron，andthelimbsoftornmenweresplashingroundhiminthewater。Hemanagedtocrawloutofthemud。
Somethinghadhithimwhilehewasswimmingandhethoughthewoulddie。Butlifestirredinhim。Hehadamessageforyou。Foralongtimehewentoncrawlingunderthebigtreesonhishandsandknees，forthereisnorestforamessengertillthemessageisdelivered。Atlasthefoundhimselfontheleftbankofthecreek。
Andstillhefeltlifestirinhim。Sohestartedtoswimacross，forifyouwereinthisworldyouwereontheotherside。Whileheswamhefelthisstrengthabandoninghim。Hemanagedtoscrambleontoadriftinglogandlayonitlikeonewhoisdead，tillwepulledhimintooneofourboats。\"
Wasubceased。ItseemedtoLingardthatitwasimpossibleformortalmantosuffermorethanhesufferedinthesucceedingmomentofsilencecrowdedbythemuteimagesasofuniversaldestruction。HefelthimselfgonetopiecesasthoughtheviolentexpressionofJorgenson’sintolerablemistrustofthelifeofmenhadshatteredhissoul，leavinghisbodyrobbedofallpowerofresistanceandofallfortitude，apreyforevertoinfiniteremorseandendlessregrets。
\"Leaveme，Wasub，\"hesaid。\"Theyarealldead——butIwouldsleep。\"
Wasubraisedhisdumboldeyestothewhiteman’sface。
\"Tuan，itisnecessarythatyoushouldhearJaffir，\"hesaid，patiently。
\"Ishegoingtodie？\"askedLingardinalow，cautioustoneasthoughhewereafraidofthesoundofhisownvoice。
\"Whocantell？\"Wasub’svoicesoundedmorepatientthanever。
\"Thereisnowoundonhisbodybut，OTuan，hedoesnotwishtolive。\"
\"AbandonedbyhisGod，\"mutteredLingardtohimself。
Wasubwaitedalittlebeforehewenton，\"And，Tuan，hehasamessageforyou。\"
\"Ofcourse。Well，Idon’twanttohearit。\"
\"Itisfromthosewhowillneverspeaktoyouagain，\"Wasubpersevered，sadly。\"Itisagreattrust。ARajah’sownwords。ItisdifficultforJaffirtodie。Hekeepsonmutteringaboutaringthatwasforyou，andthatheletpassoutofhiscare。Itwasagreattalisman！\"
\"Yes。Butitdidnotworkthistime。AndifIgoandtellJaffirwhyhewillbeabletotellhisRajah，OWasub，sinceyousaythatheisgoingtodie……Iwonderwheretheywillmeet，\"hemutteredtohimself。
OncemoreWasubraisedhiseyestoLingard’sface。\"ParadiseisthelotofallTrueBelievers，\"hewhispered，firminhissimplefaith。
ThemanwhohadbeenundonebyaglimpseofParadiseexchangedaprofoundlookwiththeoldMalay。Thenhegotup。Onhispassagetothemainhatchwaythecommanderofthebrigmetnooneonthedecks，asifallmankindhadgivenhimupexcepttheoldmanwhoprecededhimandthatothermandyinginthedeepeningtwilight，whowasawaitinghiscoming。Below，inthelightofthehatchway，hesawayoungCalashwithabroadyellowfaceandhiswiryhairstickingupinstiffwispsthroughthefoldsofhishead—kerchief，holdinganearthenwarewater—jartothelipsofJaffirextendedonhisbackonapileofmats。
Alanguidrollofthealreadyglazedeyeballs，amerestirofblackandwhiteinthegatheringduskshowedthatthefaithfulmessengerofprinceswasawareofthepresenceofthemanwhohadbeensolongknowntohimandhispeopleastheKingoftheSea。
LingardkneltdownclosetoJaffir’shead，whichrolledalittlefromsidetosideandthenbecamestill，staringatabeamoftheupperdeck。Lingardbenthiseartothedarklips。\"Deliveryourmessage\"hesaidinagentletone。
\"TheRajahwishedtoholdyourhandoncemore，\"whisperedJaffirsofaintlythatLingardhadtoguessthewordsratherthanhearthem。\"Iwastotellyou，\"hewenton——andstoppedsuddenly。
\"Whatwereyoutotellme？\"
\"Toforgeteverything，\"saidJaffirwithaloudeffortasifbeginningalongspeech。AfterthathesaidnothingmoretillLingardmurmured，\"AndtheladyImmada？\"
Jaffircollectedallhisstrength。\"Shehopednomore，\"heuttered，distinctly。\"Theordercametoherwhileshemourned，veiled，apart。Ididn’tevenseeherface。\"
LingardswayedoverthedyingmansoheavilythatWasub，standingnearby，hastenedtocatchhimbytheshoulder。Jaffirseemedunawareofanything，andwentonstaringatthebeam。
\"Canyouhearme，OJaffir？\"askedLingard。
\"Ihear。\"
\"Ineverhadthering。Whocouldbringittome？\"
\"Wegaveittothewhitewoman——mayJehannumbeherlot！\"
\"No！Itshallbemylot，\"saidLingardwithdespairingforce，whileWasubraisedbothhishandsindismay。\"For，listen，Jaffir，ifshehadgiventheringtomeitwouldhavebeentoonethatwasdumb，deaf，androbbedofallcourage。\"
ItwasimpossibletosaywhetherJaffirhadheard。Hemadenosound，therewasnochangeinhisawfulstare，buthispronebodymovedunderthecottonsheetasiftogetfurtherawayfromthewhiteman。LingardgotupslowlyandmakingasigntoWasubtoremainwherehewas，wentupondeckwithoutgivinganotherglancetothedyingman。Againitseemedtohimthathewaspacingthequarter—deckofadesertedship。Themulattosteward，watchingthroughthecrackofthepantrydoor，sawtheCaptainstaggerintothecuddyandfling—tothedoorbehindhimwithacrash。FormorethananhournobodyapproachedthatcloseddoortillCartercomingdownthecompanionstairsspokewithoutattemptingtoopenit。
\"Areyouthere，sir？\"Theanswer，\"Youmaycomein，\"comfortedtheyoungmanbyitsstrongresonance。Hewentin。
\"Well？\"
\"Jaffirisdead。Thismoment。Ithoughtyouwouldwanttoknow。\"
LingardlookedpersistentlyatCarter，thinkingthatnowJaffirwasdeadtherewasnooneleftontheemptyearthtospeaktohimawordofreproach；noonetoknowthegreatnessofhisintentions，thebondoffidelitybetweenhimandHassimandImmada，thedepthofhisaffectionforthosepeople，theearnestnessofhisvisions，andtheunboundedtrustthatwashisreward。BythemadscornofJorgensonflamingupagainstthelifeofmen，allthiswasasifithadneverbeen。Ithadbecomeasecretlockedupinhisownbreastforever。
\"TellWasubtoopenoneofthelong—clothbalesinthehold，Mr。
Carter，andgivethecrewacottonsheettoburyhimdecentlyaccordingtotheirfaith。Letitbedoneto—night。Theymusthavetheboats，too。Isupposetheywillwanttotakehimonthesandbank。\"
\"Yes，sir，\"saidCarter。
\"Letthemhavewhattheywant，spades，torches……Wasubwillchanttherightwords。ParadiseisthelotofallTrueBelievers。Doyouunderstandme，Mr。Carter？Paradise！Iwonderwhatitwillbeforhim！Unlesshegetsmessagestocarrythroughthejungle，avoidingambushes，swimminginstormsandknowingnorest，hewon’tlikeit。\"
Carterlistenedwithanunmovedface。ItseemedtohimthattheCaptainhadforgottenhispresence。
\"Andallthetimehewillbesleepingonthatsandbank，\"Lingardbeganagain，sittinginhisoldplaceunderthegiltthunderboltssuspendedoverhisheadwithhiselbowsonthetableandhishandstohistemples。\"Iftheywantaboardtosetupatthegraveletthemhaveapieceofanoakplank。Itwillstaythere——tillthenextmonsoon。Perhaps。\"
Carterfeltuncomfortablebeforethattensestarewhichjustmissedhimandinthatconfinedcabinseemedawfulinitspiercingandfar—offexpression。Butashehadnotbeendismissedhedidnotliketogoaway。
\"Everythingwillbedoneasyouwishit，sir，\"hesaid。\"I
supposetheyachtwillbeleavingthefirstthingto—morrowmorning，sir。\"
\"Ifshedoesn’twemustgiveherasolidshotortwotolivenherup——eh，Mr。Carter？\"
Carterdidnotknowwhethertosmileortolookhorrified。Intheendhedidboth，butastosayinganythinghefounditimpossible。ButLingarddidnotexpectananswer。
\"Ibelieveyouaregoingtostaywithme，Mr。Carter？\"
\"Itoldyou，sir，Iamyourmanifyouwantme。\"
\"Thetroubleis，Mr。Carter，thatIamnolongerthemantowhomyouspokethatnightinCarimata。\"
\"NeitheramI，sir，inamannerofspeaking。\"
Lingard，relaxingthetensenessofhisstare，lookedattheyoungman，thoughtfully。
\"Afterall，itisthebrigthatwillwantyou。Shewillneverchange。Thefinestcraftafloatintheseseas。Shewillcarrymeaboutasshedidbefore，but……\"
Heunclaspedhishands，madeasweepinggesture。
Cartergaveallhisnaivesympathytothatmanwhohadcertainlyrescuedthewhitepeoplebutseemedtohavelosthisownsoulintheattempt。CarterhadheardsomethingfromWasub。Hehadmadeoutenoughofthisstoryfromtheoldserang’spidginEnglishtoknowthattheCaptain’snativefriends，oneofthemawoman，hadperishedinamysteriouscatastrophe。Butthewhyofit，andhowitcameabout，remainedstillquiteincomprehensibletohim。Ofcourse，amanliketheCaptainwouldfeelterriblycutup……
\"Youwillbesoonyourselfagain，sir，\"hesaidinthekindestpossibletone。
WiththesamesimplicityLingardshookhishead。HewasthinkingofthedeadJaffirwithhislastmessagedeliveredanduntroublednowbyallthesemattersoftheearth。Hehadbeenorderedtotellhimtoforgeteverything。Lingardhadaninwardshudder。InthedismayofhishearthemighthavebelievedhisbrigtolieundertheverywingoftheAngelofDesolation——sooppressive，sofinal，andhopelessseemedthesilenceinwhichheandCarterlookedateachother，wistfully。
Lingardreachedforasheetofpaperamongstseverallyingonthetable，tookupapen，hesitatedamoment，andthenwrote：
\"Meetmeatday—breakonthesandbank。\"
HeaddressedtheenvelopetoMrs。Travers，YachtHermit，andpusheditacrossthetable。
\"Sendthisonboardtheschooneratonce，Mr。Carter。Waitamoment。Whenourboatsshoveoffforthesandbankhavetheforecastlegunfired。Iwanttoknowwhenthatdeadmanhaslefttheship。\"
Hesatalone，leaninghisheadonhishand，listening，listeningendlessly，forthereportofthegun。Woulditnevercome？Whenitcameatlastmuffled，distant，withaslightshockthroughthebodyofthebrigheremainedstillwithhisheadleaningonhishandbutwithadistinctconviction，withanalmostphysicalcertitude，thatunderthecottonsheetshroudingthedeadmansomethingofhimself，too，hadlefttheship。
IX
Inaroomycabin，furnishedandfittedwithausterecomfort，Mr。
Traversreposedateaseinalowbed—placeunderasnowywhitesheetandalightsilkcoverlet，hisheadsunkinawhitepillowofextremepurity。Afaintscentoflavenderhungaboutthefreshlinen。ThoughlyingonhisbacklikeapersonwhoisseriouslyillMr。Traverswasconsciousofnothingworsethanagreatfatigue。Mr。Travers’restfulnesshadsomethingfaintlytriumphantinit。Tofindhimselfagainonboardhisyachthadsoothedhisvanityandhadrevivedhissenseofhisownimportance。Hecontemplateditinadistantperspective，restoredtoitspropersurroundingsandunaffectedbyanadventuretooextraordinarytotroubleasuperiormindoreventoremaininone’smemoryforanylengthoftime。Hewasnotresponsible。Likemanymenambitiousofdirectingtheaffairsofanation，Mr。
Traversdislikedthesenseofresponsibility。Hewouldnothavebeenaboveevadingitincaseofneed，butwithperverseloftinesshereally，inhisheart，scornedit。Thatwasthereasonwhyhewasabletolieatrestandenjoyasenseofreturningvigour。Buthedidnotcaremuchtotalkasyet，andthatwaswhythesilenceinthestateroomhadlastedforhours。
Thebulkheadlamphadagreensilkshade。Itwasunnecessarytoadmitforamomenttheexistenceofimpudenceorruffianism。A
discreetknockingatthecabindoorsoundeddeferential。
Mrs。Traversgotuptoseewhatwaswanted，andreturnedwithoututteringasinglewordtothefoldingarmchairbythesideofthebed—place，withanenvelopeinherhandwhichshetoreopeninthegreenishlight。Mr。Traversremainedincuriousbuthiswifehandedtohimanunfoldedsheetofpaperwhichhecondescendedtoholduptohiseyes。Itcontainedonlyonelineofwriting。Heletthepaperfallonthecoverletandwentonreposingasbefore。Itwasasickman’srepose。Mrs。Traversinthearmchair，withherhandsonthearm—rests，hadagreatdignityofattitude。
\"Iintendtogo，\"shedeclaredafteratime。
\"Youintendtogo，\"repeatedMr。Traversinafeeble，deliberatevoice。\"Really，itdoesn’tmatterwhatyoudecidetodo。Allthisisofsolittleimportance。Itseemstomethattherecanbenopossibleobject。\"
\"Perhapsnot，\"sheadmitted。\"Butdon’tyouthinkthattheuttermostfarthingshouldalwaysbepaid？\"
Mr。Travers’headrolledoveronthepillowandgaveacovertlyscaredlookatthatoutspokenwoman。Butitrolledbackagainatonceandthewholemanremainedpassive，theveryembodimentofhelplessexhaustion。Mrs。Traversnoticedthis，andhadtheunexpectedimpressionthatMr。Traverswasnotsoillashelooked。\"He’smakingthemostofit。It’samatterofdiplomacy，\"
shethought。Shethoughtthiswithoutirony，bitterness，ordisgust。Onlyherheartsankalittlelowerandshefeltthatshecouldnotremaininthecabinwiththatmanfortherestoftheevening。Foralllife——yes！Butnotforthatevening。
\"It’ssimplymonstrous，\"murmuredtheman，whowaseitherverydiplomaticorveryexhausted，inalanguidmanner。\"Thereissomethingabnormalinyou。\"
Mrs。Traversgotupswiftly。
\"Onecomesacrossmonstrousthings。ButIassureyouthatofallthemonstersthatwaitonwhatyouwouldcallanormalexistencetheoneIdreadmostistediousness。Amercilessmonsterwithoutteethorclaws。Impotent。Horrible！\"
Sheleftthestateroom，vanishingoutofitwithnoiselessresolution。Nopoweronearthcouldhavekeptherinthereforanotherminute。Ondeckshefoundamoonlessnightwithavelvetytepidfeelingintheair，andintheskyamassofblurredstarlight，likethetarnishedtinselofaworn—out，veryold，verytediousfirmament。Theusualroutineoftheyachthadbeenalreadyresumed，theawningshadbeenstretchedaft，asolitaryroundlamphadbeenhungasusualunderthemainboom。Outofthedeepgloombehinditd’Alcacer，along，loosefigure，loungedinthedimlightacrossthedeck。D’AlcacerhadgotpromptlyintouchwiththestoreofcigarettesheowedtotheGovernorGeneral’sgenerosity。Alarge，pulsatingsparkglowed，illuminatingredlythedesignofhislipsunderthefinedarkmoustache，thetipofhisnose，hisleanchin。D’Alcacerreproachedhimselfforanunwontedlight—heartednesswhichhadsomehowtakenpossessionofhim。Hehadnotexperiencedthatsortoffeelingforyears。Reprehensibleasitwashedidnotwantanythingtodisturbit。ButashecouldnotrunawayopenlyfromMrs。Traversheadvancedtomeether。
\"Idohopeyouhavenothingtotellme，\"hesaidwithwhimsicalearnestness。
\"I？No！Haveyou？\"
Heassuredherhehadnot，andprofferedarequest。\"Don’tletustelleachotheranything，Mrs。Travers。Don’tletusthinkofanything。Ibelieveitwillbethebestwaytogetovertheevening。\"Therewasrealanxietyinhisjestingtone。