"Icouldneverhaveexpectedtohearsuchaspeechfromyou。AstowhatIdidexpect！……Imusthavebeenverystupid。"
　　"No，youareanythingbutthat，"declaredMr。Travers，conscientiously。"Itisn’tstupidity。"Hehesitatedforamoment。
　　"It’sakindofwilfulness，Ithink。Ipreferrednottothinkaboutthisgrievousdifferenceinourpointsofview，which，youwilladmit，Icouldnothavepossiblyforeseenbeforewe……"
　　AsortofsolemnembarrassmenthadcomeoverMr。Travers。Mrs。
　　Travers，leaningherchinonthepalmofherhand，staredatthebarematchboardsideofthehut。
　　"Doyouchargemewithprofoundgirlishduplicity？"sheasked，verysoftly。
　　TheinsideofthedeckhousewasfullofstagnantheatperfumedbyaslightscentwhichseemedtoemanatefromtheloosemassofMrs。Travers’hair。Mr。Traversevadedthedirectquestionwhichstruckhimaslackingfinenesseventothepointofimpropriety。
　　"ImustsupposethatIwasnotinthecalmpossessionofmyinsightandjudgmentinthosedays，"hesaid。"I——Iwasnotinacriticalstateofmindatthetime，"headmittedfurther；butevenaftergoingsofarhedidnotlookupathiswifeandthereforemissedsomethingliketheghostofasmileonMrs。
　　Travers’lips。Thatsmilewastingedwithscepticismwhichwastoodeep—seatedforanythingbutthefaintestexpression。
　　Thereforeshesaidnothing，andMr。Traverswentonasifthinkingaloud：
　　"Yourconductwas，ofcourse，abovereproach；butyoumadeforyourselfadetestablereputationofmentalsuperiority，expressedironically。Youinspiredmistrustinthebestpeople。Youwereneverpopular。"
　　"Iwasbored，"murmuredMrs。Traversinareminiscenttoneandwithherchinrestinginthehollowofherhand。
　　Mr。Traversgotupfromtheseaman’schestasunexpectedlyasifhehadbeenstungbyawasp，but，ofcourse，withamuchslowerandmoresolemnmotion。
　　"Thematterwithyou，Edith，isthatatheartyouareperfectlyprimitive。"Mrs。Traversstoodup，too，withasupple，leisurelymovement，andraisingherhandstoherhairturnedhalfawaywithapensiveremark：
　　"Imperfectlycivilized。"
　　"Imperfectlydisciplined，"correctedMr。Traversafteramomentofdrearymeditation。
　　Sheletherarmsfallandturnedherhead。
　　"No，don’tsaythat，"sheprotestedwithstrangeearnestness。"I
　　amthemostseverelydisciplinedpersonintheworld。Iamtemptedtosaythatmydisciplinehasstoppedatnothingshortofkillingmyself。IsupposeyoucanhardlyunderstandwhatImean。"
　　Mr。Traversmadeaslightgrimaceatthefloor。
　　"Ishallnottry，"hesaid。"Itsoundslikesomethingthatabarbarian，hatingthedelicatecomplexitiesandtherestraintsofanoblerlife，mighthavesaid。Fromyouitstrikesmeaswilfulbadtaste……Ihaveoftenwonderedatyourtastes。Youhavealwayslikedextremeopinions，exoticcostumes，lawlesscharacters，romanticpersonalities——liked’Alcacer……"
　　"PoorMr。d’Alcacer，"murmuredMrs。Travers。
　　"Amanwithoutanyideasofdutyorusefulness，"saidMr。
　　Travers，acidly。"Whatareyoupityinghimfor？"
　　"Why！Forfindinghimselfinthispositionoutofmeregood—nature。Hehadnothingtoexpectfromjoiningourvoyage，noadvantageforhispoliticalambitionsoranythingofthekind。I
　　supposeyouaskedhimonboardtobreakourtete—a—tetewhichmusthavegrownwearisometoyou。"
　　"Iamneverbored，"declaredMr。Travers。"D’Alcacerseemedgladtocome。And，beingaSpaniard，thehorriblewasteoftimecannotmattertohimintheleast。"
　　"Wasteoftime！"repeatedMrs。Travers，indignantly。
　　"Hemayyethavetopayforhisgoodnaturewithhislife。"
　　Mr。Traverscouldnotconcealamovementofanger。
　　"Ah！Iforgotthoseassumptions，"hesaidbetweenhisclenchedteeth。"HeisamereSpaniard。Hetakesthisfarcicalconspiracywithperfectnonchalance。Decayedraceshavetheirownphilosophy。"
　　"Hetakesitwithadignityofhisown。"
　　"Idon’tknowwhatyoucallhisdignity。Ishouldcallitlackofself—respect。"
　　"Why？Becauseheisquietandcourteous，andreserveshisjudgment。Andallowmetotellyou，Martin，thatyouarenottakingourtroublesverywell。"
　　"Youcan’texpectfrommeallthoseforeignaffectations。Iamnotinthehabitofcompromisingwithmyfeelings。"
　　Mrs。Traversturnedcompletelyroundandfacedherhusband。"Yousulk，"shesaid……Mr。Traversjerkedhisheadbackalittleasiftoletthewordgopast。——"Iamoutraged，"hedeclared。
　　Mrs。Traversrecognizedtheresomethinglikerealsuffering。——"I
　　assureyou，"shesaid，seriously（forshewasaccessibletopity），"IassureyouthatthisstrangeLingardhasnoideaofyourimportance。Hedoesn’tknowanythingofyoursocialandpoliticalpositionandstilllessofyourgreatambitions。"Mr。
　　Traverslistenedwithsomeattention。——"Couldn’tyouhaveenlightenedhim？"heasked。——"Itwouldhavebeennouse；hismindisfixeduponhisownpositionanduponhisownsenseofpower。
　　Heisamanofthelowerclasses……"——"Heisabrute，"saidMr。Travers，obstinately，andforamomentthosetwolookedstraightintoeachother’seyes。——"Oh，"saidMrs。Travers，slowly，"youaredeterminednottocompromisewithyourfeelings！"Anundertoneofscorncreptintohervoice。"ButshallItellyouwhatIthink？Ithink，"andsheadvancedherheadslightlytowardthepale，unshavenfacethatconfrontedherdarkeyes，"Ithinkthatforallyourblindscornyoujudgethemanwellenoughtofeelthatyoucanindulgeyourindignationwithperfectsafety。Doyouhear？Withperfectsafety！"Directlyshehadspokensheregrettedthesewords。ReallyitwasunreasonabletotakeMr。Travers’tricksofcharactermorepassionatelyonthisspotoftheEasternArchipelagofullofobscureplotsandwarringmotivesthaninthemoreartificialatmosphereofthetown。Afterallwhatshewantedwassimplytosavehislife，nottomakehimunderstandanything。Mr。Traversopenedhismouthandwithoututteringawordshutitagain。Hiswifeturnedtowardthelooking—glassnailedtothewall。Sheheardhisvoicebehindher。
　　"Edith，where’sthetruthinallthis？"
　　Shedetectedtheanguishofaslowmindwithaninstinctivedreadofobscureplaceswhereinnewdiscoveriescanbemade。Shelookedoverhershouldertosay：
　　"It’sonthesurface，Iassureyou。Altogetheronthesurface。"
　　Sheturnedagaintothelooking—glasswhereherownfacemetherwithdarkeyesandafairmistofhairabovethesmoothforehead；
　　butherwordshadproducednosoothingeffect。
　　"Butwhatdoesitmean？"criedMr。Travers。"Whydoesn’tthefellowapologize？Whyarewekepthere？Arewebeingkepthere？
　　Whydon’twegetaway？Whydoesn’thetakemebackonboardmyyacht？Whatdoeshewantfromme？Howdidheprocureourreleasefromthesepeopleonshorewhohesaysintendedtocutourthroats？Whydidtheygiveusuptohiminstead？"
　　Mrs。Traversbegantotwistherhaironherhead。
　　"Mattersofhighpolicyandoflocalpolitics。Conflictofpersonalinterests，mistrustbetweentheparties，intriguesofindividuals——yououghttoknowhowthatsortofthingworks。Hisdiplomacymadeuseofallthat。Thefirstthingtodowasnottoliberateyoubuttogetyouintohiskeeping。Heisaverygreatmanhereandletmetellyouthatyoursafetydependsonhisdexterityintheuseofhisprestigeratherthanonhispowerwhichhecannotuse。IfyouwouldlethimtalktoyouIamsurehewouldtellyouasmuchasitispossibleforhimtodisclose。"
　　"Idon’twanttobetoldaboutanyofhisrascalities。Buthaven’tyoubeentakenintohisconfidence？"
　　"Completely，"admittedMrs。Travers，peeringintothesmalllooking—glass。
　　"Whatistheinfluenceyoubroughttobearuponthisman？Itlookstomeasifourfatewereinyourhands。"
　　"Yourfateisnotinmyhands。Itisnoteveninhishands。Thereisamoralsituationherewhichmustbesolved。"
　　"Ethicsofblackmail，"commentedMr。Traverswithunexpectedsarcasm。Itflashedthroughhiswife’smindthatperhapsshedidn’tknowhimsowellasshehadsupposed。Itwasasifthepolishedandsolemncrustofhardproprietieshadcrackedslightly，hereandthere，underthestrain，disclosingthemerewrongheadednessofacommonmortal。Butitwasonlymannerthathadcrackedalittle；themarvellousstupidityofhisconceitremainedthesame。Shethoughtthatthisdiscussionwasperfectlyuseless，andasshefinishedputtingupherhairshesaid："I
　　thinkwehadbettergoondecknow。"
　　"Youproposetogooutondecklikethis？"mutteredMr。Traverswithdowncasteyes。
　　"Likethis？Certainly。It’snolongeranovelty。Whoisgoingtobeshocked？"
　　Mr。Traversmadenoreply。Whatshehadsaidofhisattitudewasverytrue。Hesulkedattheenormousoffensivenessofmen，things，andevents；ofwordsandevenofglanceswhichheseemedtofeelphysicallyrestingonhisskinlikeapain，likeadegradingcontact。Hemanagednottowince。Buthesulked。Hiswifecontinued，"Andletmetellyouthatthoseclothesarefitforaprincess——Imeantheyareofthequality，materialandstylecustomprescribesforthehighestintheland，afar—distantlandwhereIaminformedwomenruleasmuchasthemen。Infacttheyweremeanttobepresentedtoanactualprincessinduecourse。TheywereselectedwiththegreatestcareforthatchildImmada。CaptainLingard……"
　　Mr。Traversmadeaninarticulatenoisepartakingofagroanandagrunt。
　　"Well，ImustcallhimbysomenameandthisIthoughtwouldbetheleastoffensiveforyoutohear。Afterall，themanexists。
　　Butheisknownalsoonacertainportionoftheearth’ssurfaceasKingTom。D’Alcacerisgreatlytakenbythatname。Itseemstohimwonderfullywelladaptedtotheman，initsfamiliarityanddeference。Andifyouprefer……"
　　"Iwouldprefertohearnothing，"saidMr。Travers，distinctly。
　　"Notasingleword。Notevenfromyou，tillIamafreeagentagain。Butwordsdon’ttouchme。Nothingcantouchme；neitheryoursinisterwarningsnorthemoodsoflevitywhichyouthinkpropertodisplaybeforeamanwhoselife，accordingtoyou，hangsonathread。"
　　"Ineverforgetitforamoment，"saidMrs。Travers。"AndInotonlyknowthatitdoesbutIalsoknowthestrengthofthethread。Itisawonderfulthread。Youmaysayifyoulikeithasbeenspunbythesamefatewhichmadeyouwhatyouare。"
　　Mr。Traversfeltawfullyoffended。Hehadneverheardanybody，letalonehisownself，addressedinsuchterms。Thetoneseemedtoquestionhisveryquality。Hereflectedwithshockedamazementthathehadlivedwiththatwomanforeightyears！Andhesaidtohergloomily：
　　"Youtalklikeapagan。"
　　ItwasaverystrongcondemnationwhichapparentlyMrs。Travershadfailedtohearforshepursuedwithanimation：
　　"Butreally，youcan’texpectmetomeditateonitallthetimeorshutmyselfuphereandmournthecircumstancesfrommorningtonight。Itwouldbemorbid。Letusgoondeck。"
　　"Andyoulooksimplyheathenishinthiscostume，"Mr。Traverswentonasthoughhehadnotbeeninterrupted，andwithanaccentofdeliberatedisgust。
　　Herheartwasheavybuteverythinghesaidseemedtoforcethetoneoflevityontoherlips。"AslongasIdon’tlooklikeaguy，"sheremarked，negligently，andthencaughtthedirectionofhisluridstarewhichasamatteroffactwasfastenedonherbarefeet。Shecheckedherself，"Oh，yes，ifyoupreferitIwillputonmystockings。ButyouknowImustbeverycarefulofthem。
　　It’stheonlypairIhavehere。Ihavewashedthemthismorninginthatbathroomwhichisbuiltoverthestern。Theyarenowdryingovertherailjustoutside。Perhapsyouwillbegoodenoughtopassthemtomewhenyougoondeck。"
　　Mr。Traversspunroundandwentondeckwithoutaword。AssoonasshewasaloneMrs。Traverspressedherhandstohertemples，agestureofdistresswhichrelievedherbyitssincerity。Themeasuredfootstepsoftwomencametoherplainlyfromthedeck，rhythmicanddoublewithasuggestionoftranquilandfriendlyintercourse。Shedistinguishedparticularlythefootfallsofthemanwhoselife’sorbitwasmostremotefromherown。Andyettheorbitshadcut！Afewdaysagoshecouldnothaveevenconceivedofhisexistence，andnowhewasthemanwhosefootsteps，itseemedtoher，herearscouldsingleunerringlyinthetrampofacrowd。Itwas，indeed，afabulousthing。Inthehalflightofherover—heatedsheltersheletanirresolute，frightenedsmilepassoffherlipsbeforeshe，too，wentondeck。
　　II
　　AningeniouslyconstructedframeworkoflightpostsandthinlathsoccupiedthegreaterpartofthedeckamidshipsoftheEmma。Thefourwallsofthatairystructureweremadeofmuslin。
　　Itwascomparativelylofty。Adoor—likearrangementoflightbattensfilledwithcalicowasfurtherprotectedbyasystemofcurtainscalculatedtobafflethepursuitofmosquitoesthathauntedtheshoresofthelagooningreatsingingcloudsfromsunsettillsunrise。AlotoffinematscoveredthedeckspacewithinthetransparentshelterdevisedbyLingardandJorgensontomakeMrs。Travers’existencepossibleduringthetimewhenthefateofthetwomen，andindeedprobablyofeverybodyelseonboardtheEmma，hadtohanginthebalance。VerysoonLingard’sunbiddenandfatalguestshadlearnedthetrickofsteppinginandoutoftheplacequickly。Mr。d’Alcacerperformedthefeatwithoutapparenthaste，almostnonchalantly，yetaswellasanybody。Itwasgenerallyconcededthathehadneverletamosquitointogetherwithhimself。Mr。Traversdodgedinandoutwithoutgraceandwasobviouslymuchirritatedatthenecessity。
　　Mrs。Traversdiditinamannerallherown，withmarkedclevernessandanunconsciousair。TherewasanimprovisedtableinthereandsomewickerarmchairswhichJorgensonhadproducedfromsomewhereinthedepthsoftheship。ItwashardtosaywhattheinsideoftheEmmadidnotcontain。Itwascrammedwithallsortsofgoodslikeageneralstore。Thatoldhulkwasthearsenalandthewar—chestofLingard’spoliticalaction；shewasstockedwithmusketsandgunpowder，withbalesoflongcloth，ofcottonprints，ofsilks；withbagsofriceandcurrencybrassguns。Shecontainedeverythingnecessaryfordealingdeathanddistributingbribes，toactonthecupidityanduponthefearsofmen，tomarchandtoorganize，tofeedthefriendsandtocombattheenemiesofthecause。Sheheldwealthandpowerinherflanks，thatgroundedshipthatwouldswimnomore，withoutmastsandwiththebestpartofherdeckcumberedbythetwostructuresofthinboardsandoftransparentmuslin。
　　WithinthelatterlivedtheEuropeans，visibleinthedaytimetothefewMalaysonboardasifthroughawhitehaze。Intheeveningthelightingofthehurricanelampsinsideturnedthemintodarkphantomssurroundedbyashiningmist，againstwhichtheinsectworldrushinginitsmillionsoutoftheforestonthebankwasbaffledmysteriouslyinitsassault。Rigidlyenclosedbytransparentwalls，likecaptivesofanenchantedcobweb，theymovedabout，sat，gesticulated，conversedpubliclyduringtheday；andatnightwhenallthelanternsbutonewereextinguished，theirslumberingshapescoveredalloverbywhitecottonsheetsonthecampbedsteads，whichwerebroughtineveryevening，conveyedthegruesomesuggestionofdeadbodiesreposingonstretchers。Thefood，suchasitwas，wasservedwithinthatglorifiedmosquitonetwhicheverybodycalledthe"Cage"withoutanyhumorousintention。AtmealtimesthepartyfromtheyachthadthecompanyofLingardwhoattachedtothisordealasenseofdutyperformedatthealtarofcivilityandconciliation。HecouldhavenoconceptionhowmuchhispresenceaddedtotheexasperationofMr。TraversbecauseMr。Travers’mannerwastoointenselyconsistenttopresentanyshades。Itwasdeterminedbyanineradicableconvictionthathewasavictimheldtoransomonsomeincomprehensibletermsbyanextraordinaryandoutrageousbandit。Thisconviction，strungtothehighestpitch，neverlefthimforamoment，beingtheobjectofindignantmeditationtohismind，andevenclinging，asitwere，tohisverybody。Itlurkedinhiseyes，inhisgestures，inhisungraciousmutters，andinhissinistersilences。TheshocktohismoralbeinghadendedbyaffectingMr。Travers’physicalmachine。Hewasawareofhepaticpains，sufferedfromaccessesofsomnolenceandsuppressedgustsoffurywhichfrightenedhimsecretly。Hiscomplexionhadacquiredayellowtinge，whilehisheavyeyeshadbecomebloodshotbecauseofthesmokeoftheopenwoodfiresduringhisthreedays’detentioninsideBelarab’sstockade。Hiseyeshadbeenalwaysverysensitivetooutwardconditions。D’Alcacer’sfineblackeyesweremoreenduringandhisappearancedidnotdifferverymuchfromhisordinaryappearanceonboardtheyacht。
　　HehadacceptedwithsmilingthankstheofferofathinblueflanneltunicfromJorgenson。Thosetwomenweremuchofthesamebuild，thoughofcoursed’Alcacer，quietlyaliveandspirituallywatchful，didnotresembleJorgenson，who，withoutbeingexactlymacabre，behavedmorelikeanindifferentbutrestlesscorpse。
　　Thosetwocouldnotbesaidtohaveeverconversedtogether。
　　ConversationwithJorgensonwasanimpossiblething。EvenLingardneverattemptedthefeat。HepropoundedquestionstoJorgensonmuchasamagicianwouldinterrogateanevokedshade，orgavehimcurtdirectionsasonewouldmakeuseofsomemarvellousautomaton。AndthatwasapparentlythewayinwhichJorgensonpreferredtobetreated。Lingard’srealcompanyonboardtheEmmawasd’Alcacer。D’AlcacerhadmetLingardontheeasytermsofamanaccustomedallhislifetogoodsocietyinwhichtheveryaffectationsmustbecarriedonwithouteffort。Whetheraffectation，ornature，orinspireddiscretion，d’Alcacerneverlettheslightestcuriositypiercethesmoothnessofhislevel，gravecourtesylightenedfrequentlybyslightsmileswhichoftenhadnotmuchconnectionwiththewordsheuttered，exceptthatsomehowtheymadethemsoundkindlyandasitweretactful。Intheircharacter，however，thosewordswerestrictlyneutral。
　　TheonlytimewhenLingardhaddetectedsomethingofadeepercomprehensionind’AlcacerwasthedayafterthelongnegotiationsinsideBelarab’sstockadeforthetemporarysurrenderoftheprisoners。Thatmovehadbeensuggestedtohim，exactlyasMrs。Travershadtoldherhusband，bytherivalriesofthepartiesandthestateofpublicopinionintheSettlementdeprivedofthepresenceofthemanwho，theoreticallyatleast，wasthegreatestpowerandthevisibleruleroftheShoreofRefuge。Belarabstilllingeredathisfather’stomb。Whetherthatmanoftheembitteredandpacifichearthadwithdrawntheretomeditateupontheunrulinessofmankindandthethanklessnatureofhistask；orwhetherhehadgonetheresimplytobatheinaparticularlyclearpoolwhichwasafeatureoftheplace，givehimselfuptotheenjoymentofacertainfruitwhichgrewinprofusionthereandindulgeforatimeinascrupulousperformanceofreligiousexercises，hisabsencefromtheSettlementwasafactoftheutmostgravity。Itistruethattheprestigeofalong—unquestionedrulershipandthelong—settledmentalhabitsofthepeoplehadcausedthecaptivestobetakenstraighttoBelarab’sstockadeasamatterofcourse。Belarab，atadistance，couldstilloutweighthepoweronthespotofTengga，whosesecretpurposeswerenobetterknown，whowasjovial，talkative，outspokenandpugnacious；butwhowasnotaprofessedservantofGodfamedformanycharitiesandascrupulousperformanceofpiouspractices，andwhoalsohadnofatherwhohadachievedalocalsaintship。ButBelarab，withhisglamourofasceticismandmelancholytogetherwithareputationforseverity（foramansopiouswouldbenaturallyruthless），wasnotonthespot。Theonlyfavourablepointinhisabsencewasthefactthathehadtakenwithhimhislatestwife，thesameladywhomJorgensonhadmentionedinhislettertoLingardasanxioustobringaboutbattle，murder，andthelootingoftheyacht，notbecauseofinbornwickednessofheartbutfromasimpledesireforsilks，jewelsandotherobjectsofpersonaladornment，quitenaturalinagirlsoyoungandelevatedtosuchahighposition。
　　BelarabhadselectedhertobethecompanionofhisretirementandLingardwasgladofit。HewasnotafraidofherinfluenceoverBelarab。Heknewhisman。Nowords，noblandishments，nosulks，scoldings，orwhisperingsofafavouritecouldaffecteithertheresolvesortheirresolutionsofthatArabwhoseactioneverseemedtohanginmysticsuspensebetweenthecontradictoryspeculationsandjudgmentsdisputingthepossessionofhiswill。ItwasnotwhatBelarabwouldeithersuddenlydoorleisurelydetermineuponthatLingardwasafraidof。Thedangerwasthatinhistaciturnhesitation，whichhadsomethinghopelesslygodlikeinitsremotecalmness，themanwoulddonothingandleavehiswhitefriendfacetofacewithunrulyimpulsesagainstwhichLingardhadnomeansofactionbutforcewhichhedarednotusesinceitwouldmeanthedestructionofhisplansandthedownfallofhishopes；andworsestillwouldwearanaspectoftreacherytoHassimandImmada，thosefugitiveswhomhehadsnatchedawayfromthejawsofdeathonanightofstormandhadpromisedtoleadbackintriumphtotheirowncountryhehadseenbutonce，sleepingunmovedunderthewrathandfireofheaven。
　　OntheafternoonoftheverydayhehadarrivedwithheronboardtheEmma——totheinfinitedisgustofJorgenson——LingardheldwithMrs。Travers（aftershehadhadacoupleofhours’rest）along，fiery，andperplexedconversation。Fromthenatureoftheproblemitcouldnotbeexhaustive；buttowardtheendofittheywerebothfeelingthoroughlyexhausted。Mrs。Travershadnolongertobeinstructedastofactsandpossibilities。Shewasawareofthemonlytoowellanditwasnotherparttoadviseorargue。Shewasnotcalledupontodecideortoplead。Thesituationwasfarbeyondthat。Butshewaswornoutwithwatchingthepassionateconflictwithinthemanwhowasbothsodesperatelyrecklessandsorigidlyrestrainedintheveryardourofhisheartandthegreatnessofhissoul。Itwasaspectaclethatmadeherforgettheactualquestionsatissue。Thiswasnostageplay；andyetshehadcaughtherselflookingathimwithbatedbreathasatagreatactoronadarkenedstageinsomesimpleandtremendousdrama。Heextortedfromheraresponsetotheforcesthatseemedtotearathissingle—mindedbrain，athisguilelessbreast。Heshookherwithhisownstruggles，hepossessedherwithhisemotionsandimposedhispersonalityasifitstragedyweretheonlythingworthconsideringinthismatter。
　　Andyetwhathadshetodowithallthoseobscureandbarbarousthings？Obviouslynothing。Unluckilyshehadbeentakenintotheconfidenceofthatman’spassionateperplexity，aconfidenceprovokedapparentlybynothingbutthepowerofherpersonality。
　　Shewasflattered，andevenmore，shewastouchedbyit；shewasawareofsomethingthatresembledgratitudeandprovokedasortofemotionalreturnasbetweenequalswhohadsecretlyrecognizedeachother’svalue。Yetatthesametimesheregrettednothavingbeenleftinthedark；asmuchinthedarkasMr。Travershimselford’Alcacer，thoughastothelatteritwasimpossibletosayhowmuchprecise，unaccountable，intuitiveknowledgewasburiedunderhisunruffledmanner。
　　D’Alcacerwasthesortofmanwhomitwouldbemucheasiertosuspectofanythingintheworldthanignorance——orstupidity。
　　Naturallyhecouldn’tknowanythingdefiniteorevenguessatthebareoutlineofthefactsbutsomehowhemusthavescentedthesituationinthosefewdaysofcontactwithLingard。HewasanacuteandsympatheticobserverinallhissecretaloofnessfromthelifeofmenwhichwassoverydifferentfromJorgenson’ssecretdivorcefromthepassionsofthisearth。Mrs。Traverswouldhavelikedtosharewithd’Alcacertheburden（foritwasaburden）ofLingard’sstory。Afterall，shehadnotprovokedthoseconfidences，neitherhadthatunexpectedadventurerfromthesealaidonheranobligationofsecrecy。No，notevenbyimplication。HehadneversaidtoherthatshewastheONLY
　　personwhomhewishedtoknowthatstory。
　　No。WhathehadsaidwasthatshewastheonlypersontowhomheCOULDtellthetalehimself，asifnooneelseonearthhadthepowertodrawitfromhim。Thatwasthesenseandnothingmore。
　　Yes，itwouldhavebeenarelieftotelld’Alcacer。ItwouldhavebeenarelieftoherfeelingofbeingshutofffromtheworldalonewithLingardasifwithinthefourwallsofaromanticpalaceandinanexoticatmosphere。Yes，thatreliefandalsoanother：thatofsharingtheresponsibilitywithsomebodyfittounderstand。Yetsheshrankfromit，withunaccountablereserve，asifbytalkingofLingardwithd’Alcacershewasboundtogivehimaninsightintoherself。Itwasavagueuneasinessandyetsopersistentthatshefeltit，too，whenshehadtoapproachandtalktoLingardunderd’Alcacer’seyes。NotthatMr。d’Alcacerwouldeverdreamofstaringorevencastingglances。Butwasheavertinghiseyesonpurpose？Thatwouldbeevenmoreoffensive。