V
　　TheverydaythatTraversandd’AlcacerhadcomeonboardtheEmmaHassimandImmadahaddepartedontheirmission；forLingard，ofcourse，couldnotthinkofleavingthewhitepeoplealonewithJorgenson。Jorgensonwasallright，buthisineradicablehabitofmutteringinhismoustacheabout"throwingalightedmatchamongstthepowderbarrels"hadinspiredLingardwithacertainamountofmistrust。And，moreover，hedidnotwanttogoawayfromMrs。Travers。
　　ItwastheonlycorrectinspirationonCarter’sparttosendJaffirwithhisreporttoLingard。Thatstout—heartedfighter，swimmer，anddevotedfolloweroftheprincelymisfortunesofHassimandImmada，hadlookeduponhismissiontocatchthechiefofficeroftheyacht（whichhehadreceivedfromLingardinCarimata）asatriflingjob。IttookhimalittlelongerthanheexpectedbuthehadgotbacktothebrigjustintimetobesentontoLingardwithCarter’sletterafteracoupleofhours’rest。
　　HehadthestoryofallthehappeningsfromWasubbeforeheleftandthoughhisfacepreserveditsgraveimpassivity，inhishearthedidnotlikeitatall。
　　Fearlessandwily，Jaffirwasthemanfordifficultmissionsandabornmessenger——asheexpressedithimself——"tobearweightywordsbetweengreatmen。"Withhisunfailingmemoryhewasabletoreproducethemexactly，whethersoftorhard，incouncilorinprivate；forheknewnofear。Withhimtherewasnoneedforwritingwhichmightfallintothehandsoftheenemy。Ifhediedonthewaythemessagewoulddiewithhim。Hehadalsothegiftofgettingatthesenseofanysituationandanobservanteye。Hewasdistinctlyoneofthosemenfromwhomtrustworthyinformationcanbeobtainedbytheleadersofgreatenterprises。Lingarddidputseveralquestionstohim，butinthisinstance，ofcourse，Jaffircouldhaveonlyverylittletosay。OfCarter，whomhecalledthe"youngone，"hesaidthathelookedaswhitemenlookwhentheyarepleasedwiththemselves；thenaddedwithoutwaitingforadefinitequestion——"Theshipsouttherearenowsafeenough，O，RajahLaut！"Therewasnoelationinhistone。
　　Lingardlookedathimblankly。WhentheGreatestofWhiteMenremarkedthattherewasyetapricetobepaidforthatsafety，Jaffirassentedbya"Yes，byAllah！"withoutlosingforamomenthisgrimcomposure。WhentoldthathewouldberequiredtogoandfindhismasterandtheladyImmadawhoweresomewhereinthebackcountry，inBelarab’stravellingcamp，hedeclaredhimselfreadytoproceedatonce。Hehadeatenhisfillandhadsleptthreehoursonboardthebrigandhewa（丁香书院小说）snottired。Whenhewasyoungheusedtogettiredsometimes；butformanyyearsnowhehadknownnosuchweakness。Hedidnotrequiretheboatwithpaddlersinwhichhehadcomeupintothelagoon。Hewouldgoaloneinasmallcanoe。Thiswasnotime，heremarked，forpublicityandostentation。Hispent—upanxietyburstthroughhislips。"Itisinmymind，Tuan，thatdeathhasnotbeensonearthemsincethatnightwhenyoucamesailinginablackcloudandtookusalloutofthestockade。"
　　LingardsaidnothingbuttherewasinJaffirafaithinthatwhitemanwhichwasnoteasilyshaken。
　　"Howareyougoingtosavethemthistime，ORajahLaut？"heasked，simply。
　　"Belarabismyfriend，"murmuredLingard。
　　InhisanxietyJaffirwasveryoutspoken。"Amanofpeace！"heexclaimedinalowtone。"Whocouldbesafewithamanlikethat？"heasked，contemptuously。
　　"Thereisnowar，"saidLingard"Thereissuspicion，dread，andrevenge，andtheangerofarmedmen，"retortedJaffir。"Youhavetakenthewhiteprisonersoutoftheirhandsbytheforceofyourwordsalone。Isthatso，Tuan？"
　　"Yes，"saidLingard。
　　"Andyouhavethemonboardhere？"askedJaffir，withaglanceoverhisshoulderatthewhiteandmistystructurewithinwhichbythelightofasmalloilflamed’AlcacerandMrs。Traverswerejustthenconversing。
　　"Yes，Ihavethemhere。"
　　"Then，RajahLaut，"whisperedJaffir，"youcanmakeallsafebygivingthemback。"
　　"CanIdothat？"werethewordsbreathedoutthroughLingard’slipstothefaithfulfollowerofHassimandImmada。
　　"Canyoudoanythingelse？"wasthewhisperedretortofJaffirthemessengeraccustomedtospeakfranklytothegreatoftheearth。"Youareawhitemanandyoucanhaveonlyoneword。AndnowIgo。"
　　Asmall，roughdug—outbelongingtotheEmmahadbeenbroughtroundtotheladder。Ashadowycalashhoveringrespectfullyinthedarknessofthedeckhadalreadyclearedhisthroattwiceinawarningmanner。
　　"Yes，Jaffir，go，"saidLingard，"andbemyfriend。"
　　"Iamthefriendofagreatprince，"saidtheother，sturdily。
　　"Butyou，RajahLaut，wereevengreater。Andgreatyouwillremainwhileyouarewithus，peopleofthisseaandofthisland。Butwhatbecomesofthestrengthofyourarmsbeforeyourownwhitepeople？Wheredoesitgoto，Isay？Well，then，wemusttrustinthestrengthofyourheart。"
　　"Ihopethatwillneverfail，"saidLingard，andJaffiremittedagruntofsatisfaction。"ButGodaloneseesintomen’shearts。"
　　"Yes。OurrefugeiswithAllah，"assentedJaffir，whohadacquiredthehabitofpiousturnsofspeechinthefrequentationofprofessedlyreligiousmen，ofwhomthereweremanyinBelarab’sstockade。Asamatteroffact，hereposedallhistrustinLingardwhohadwithhimtheprestigeofaprovidentialmansentatthehourofneedbyheavenitself。Hewaitedawhile，then："WhatisthemessageIamtotake？"heasked。
　　"TellthewholetaletotheRajahHassim，"saidLingard。"Andtellhimtomakehiswayherewiththeladyhissistersecretlyandwithspeed。Thetimeofgreattroublehascome。Letus，atleast，betogether。"
　　"Right！Right！"Jaffirapproved，heartily。"Todiealoneundertheweightofone’senemiesisadreadfulfate。"
　　Hesteppedbackoutofthesheenofthelampbywhichtheyhadbeentalkingandmakinghiswaydownintothesmallcanoehetookupapaddleandwithoutasplashvanishedonthedarklagoon。
　　ItwasthenthatMrs。Traversandd’AlcacerheardLingardcallaloudforJorgenson。InstantlythefamiliarshadowstoodatLingard’selbowandlistenedindetachedsilence。Onlyattheendofthetaleitmarvelledaudibly："Here’samessforyouifyoulike。"ButreallynothingintheworldcouldastonishorstartleoldJorgenson。Heturnedawaymutteringinhismoustache。LingardremainedwithhischininhishandandJaffir’slastwordstookgradualpossessionofhismind。ThenbrusquelyhepickedupthelampandwenttoseekMrs。Travers。Hewenttoseekherbecauseheactuallyneededherbodilypresence，thesoundofhervoice，thedark，clearglanceofhereyes。Shecoulddonothingforhim。
　　OnhiswayhebecameawarethatJorgensonhadturnedoutthefewMalaysonboardtheEmmaandwasdisposingthemaboutthedeckstowatchthelagooninalldirections。OncallingMrs。TraversoutoftheCageLingardwas，inthemidstofhismentalstruggle，consciousofacertainsatisfactionintakingherawayfromd’Alcacer。Hecouldn’tspareanyofherattentiontoanyotherman，nottheleastcrumbofhertime，nottheleastparticleofherthought！Heneededitall。Toseeitwithdrawnfromhimforthemerestinstantwasirritating——seemedadisaster。
　　D’Alcacer，leftalone，wonderedattheimperioustoneofLingard’scall。Tothisobserverofshadesthefactseemedconsiderable。"Sheernerves，"heconcluded，tohimself。"Themanisoverstrung。Hemusthavehadsomesortofshock。"Butwhatcoulditbe——hewonderedtohimself。Inthetensestagnationofthosedaysofwaitingtheslightesttremorhadanenormousimportance。D’Alcacerdidnotseekhiscampbedstead。Hedidn’tevensitdown。Withthepalmsofhishandsagainsttheedgeofthetableheleanedbackagainstit。InthatnegligentattitudehepreservedanalertmindwhichforamomentwonderedwhetherMrs。TravershadnotspoiledLingardalittle。Yetinthesuddennessoftheforcedassociation，where，too，d’Alcacerwassuretherewassomemoralprobleminthebackground，herecognizedtheextremedifficultyofweighingaccuratelytheimperiousdemandsagainstthenecessaryreservations，theexactproportionsofboldnessandcaution。Andd’AlcaceradmireduponthewholeMrs。Travers’cleverness。
　　Therecouldbenodoubtthatshehadthesituationinherhands。
　　That，ofcourse，didnotmeansafety。Shehaditinherhandsasonemayholdsomehighlyexplosiveanduncertaincompound。
　　D’Alcacerthoughtofherwithprofoundsympathyandwithaquiteunselfishinterest。Sometimesinastreetwecrossthepathofpersonalitiescompellingsympathyandwonderbutforallthatwedon’tfollowthemhome。D’AlcacerrefrainedfromfollowingMrs。
　　Traversanyfurther。HehadbecomesuddenlyawarethatMr。
　　Traverswassittinguponhiscampbedstead。Hemusthavedoneitverysuddenly。Onlyamomentbeforehehadappearedplungedinthedeepestslumber，andthestillnessforalongtimenowhadbeenperfectlyunbroken。D’AlcacerwasstartledenoughforanexclamationandMr。Traversturnedhisheadslowlyinhisdirection。D’Alcacerapproachedthebedsteadwithacertainreluctance。
　　"Awake？"hesaid。
　　"Asuddenchill，"saidMr。Travers。"ButIdon’tfeelcoldnow。
　　Strange！Ihadtheimpressionofanicyblast。"
　　"Ah！"saidd’Alcacer。
　　"Impossible，ofcourse！"wentonMr。Travers。"Thisstagnatingairnevermoves。Itclingsodiouslytoone。Whattimeisit？"
　　"Really，Idon’tknow。"
　　"Theglassofmywatchwassmashedonthatnightwhenweweresotreacherouslyassailedbythesavagesonthesandbank，"grumbledMr。Travers。
　　"ImustsayIwasneversosurprisedinmylife，"confessedd’Alcacer。"WehadstoppedandIwaslightingacigar，youmayremember。"
　　"No，"saidMr。Travers。"Ihadjustthenpulledoutmywatch。Ofcourseitflewoutofmyhandbutithungbythechain。Somebodytrampledonit。Thehandsarebrokenoffshort。ItkeepsontickingbutIcan’ttellthetime。It’sabsurd。Mostprovoking。"
　　"Doyoumeantosay，"askedd’Alcacer，"thatyouhavebeenwindingitupeveryevening？"
　　Mr。Traverslookedupfromhisbedsteadandhealsoseemedsurprised。"Why！IsupposeIhave。"Hekeptsilentforawhile。
　　"Itisn’tsomuchblindhabitasyoumaythink。Myhabitsaretheoutcomeofstrictmethod。Ihadtoordermylifemethodically。
　　Youknowverywell，mydeard’Alcacer，thatwithoutstrictmethodIwouldnothavebeenabletogetthroughmyworkandwouldhavehadnotimeatallforsocialduties，which，ofcourse，areofverygreatimportance。Imaysaythat，materially，methodhasbeenthefoundationofmysuccessinpubliclife。Therewereneveranyemptymomentsinmyday。Andnowthis！……"HelookedallroundtheCage……"Where’smywife？"heasked。
　　"Iwastalkingtoheronlyamomentago，"answeredd’Alcacer。"I
　　don’tknowthetime。Mywatchisonboardtheyacht；butitisn’tlate，youknow。"
　　Mr。Traversflungoffwithunwontedbrisknessthelightcottonsheetwhichcoveredhim。Hebuttonedhastilythetunicwhichhehadunfastenedbeforelyingdown，andjustasd’Alcacerwasexpectinghimtoswinghisfeettothedeckimpetuously，helaydownagainonthepillowandremainedperfectlystill。
　　D’AlcacerwaitedawhileandthenbegantopacetheCage。Afteracoupleofturnshestoppedandsaid，gently：
　　"Iamafraid，Travers，youarenotverywell。"
　　"Idon’tknowwhatillnessis，"answeredthevoicefromthepillowtothegreatreliefofd’Alcacerwhoreallyhadnotexpectedananswer。"Goodhealthisagreatassetinpubliclife。
　　Illnessmaymakeyoumissauniqueopportunity。Iwasneverill。"
　　Allthiscameoutdeadenedintone，asifthespeaker’sfacehadbeenburiedinthepillow。D’Alcacerresumedhispacing。
　　"IthinkIaskedyouwheremywifewas，"saidthemuffledvoice。
　　Withgreatpresenceofmindd’AlcacerkeptonpacingtheCageasifhehadnotheard。——"Youknow，Ithinksheismad，"wentonthemuffledvoice。"UnlessIam。"
　　Againd’Alcacermanagednottointerrupthisregularpacing。"DoyouknowwhatIthink？"hesaid，abruptly。"Ithink，Travers，thatyoudon’twanttotalkabouther。Ithinkthatyoudon’twanttotalkaboutanything。AndtotellyouthetruthIdon’twantto，either。"
　　D’Alcacercaughtafaintsighfromthepillowandatthesametimesawasmall，dimflameappearoutsidetheCage。Andstillhekeptonhispacing。Mrs。TraversandLingardcomingoutofthedeckhousestoppedjustoutsidethedoorandLingardstoodthedeck—lamponitsroof。Theyweretoofarfromd’Alcacertobeheard，buthecouldmakethemout：Mrs。Travers，asstraightasanarrow，andtheheavybulkofthemanwhofacedherwithaloweredhead。Hesawitinprofileagainstthelightandasifdeferentialinitsslightdroop。Theywerelookingstraightateachother。Neitherofthemmadetheslightestgesture。
　　"Thereisthatinme，"Lingardmurmured，deeply，"whichwouldsetmyheartharderthanastone。IamKingTom，RajahLaut，andfittolookanymanhereaboutsintheface。Ihavemynametotakecareof。Everythingrestsonthat。"
　　"Mr。d’Alcacerwouldexpressthisbysayingthateverythingrestedonhonour，"commentedMrs。Traverswithlipsthatdidnottremble，thoughfromtimetotimeshecouldfeeltheacceleratedbeatingofherheart。
　　"Callitwhatyoulike。It’ssomethingthatamanneedstodrawafreebreath。Andlook！——asyouseemestandingbeforeyouhereI
　　careforitnolonger。"
　　"ButIdocareforit，"retortedMrs。Travers。"Asyouseemestandinghere——Idocare。Thisissomethingthatisyourveryown。Youhavearighttoit。AndIrepeatIdocareforit。"
　　"Careforsomethingofmyown，"murmuredLingard，veryclosetoherface。"Whyshouldyoucareformyrights？"
　　"Because，"shesaid，holdinghergroundthoughtheirforeheadswerenearlytouching，"becauseifIevergetbacktomylifeI
　　don’twanttomakeitmoreabsurdbyrealremorse。"
　　HertonewassoftandLingardreceivedthebreathofthosewordslikeacaressonhisface。D’Alcacer，intheCage，madestillanotherefforttokeepuphispacing。Hedidn’twanttogiveMr。
　　Traverstheslightestexcuseforsittingupagainandlookinground。
　　"ThatIshouldlivetohearanybodysaytheycaredanythingforwhatwasmine！"whisperedLingard。"Andthatitshouldbeyou——you，whohavetakenallhardnessoutofme。"
　　"Idon’twantyourhearttobemadehard。Iwantittobemadefirm。"
　　"Youcouldn’thavesaidanythingbetterthanwhatyouhavesaidjustnowtomakeitsteady，"flowedthemurmurofLingard’svoicewithsomethingtenderinitsdepth。"Hasanybodyeverhadafriendlikethis？"heexclaimed，raisinghisheadasiftakingthestarrynighttowitness。
　　"AndIaskmyselfisitpossiblethatthereshouldbeanothermanonearththatIcouldtrustasItrustyou。Isaytoyou：Yes！Goandsavewhatyouhavearighttoanddon’tforgettobemerciful。Iwillnotremindyouofourperfectinnocence。Theearthmustbesmallindeedthatweshouldhaveblunderedlikethisintoyourlife。It’senoughtomakeonebelieveinfatality。
　　ButIcan’tfinditinmetobehavelikeafatalist，tositdownwithfoldedhands。HadyoubeenanotherkindofmanImighthavebeentoohopelessortoodisdainful。DoyouknowwhatMr。
　　d’Alcacercallsyou？"
　　InsidetheCaged’Alcacer，castingcuriousglancesintheirdirection，sawLingardshakehisheadandthoughtwithslightuneasiness："Heisrefusinghersomething。"
　　"Mr。d’Alcacer’snameforyouisthe’ManofFate’，"saidMrs。
　　Travers，alittlebreathlessly。
　　"Amouthful。Nevermind，heisagentleman。It’swhatyou……"
　　"IcallyouallbutbyyourChristianname，"saidMrs。Travers，hastily。"Believeme，Mr。d’Alcacerunderstandsyou。"
　　"Heisallright，"interjectedLingard。
　　"Andheisinnocent。Irememberwhatyouhavesaid——thattheinnocentmusttaketheirchance。Well，then，dowhatisright。"
　　"Youthinkitwouldberight？Youbelieveit？Youfeelit？"
　　"Atthistime，inthisplace，fromamanlikeyou——Yes，itisright。"
　　Lingardthoughtthatwomanwonderfullytruetohimandwonderfullyfearlesswithherself。Thenecessitytotakebackthetwocaptivestothestockadewassoclearandunavoidablenow，thathebelievednothingonearthcouldhavestoppedhimfromdoingso，butwherewasthereanotherwomanintheworldwhowouldhavetakenitlikethis？Andhereflectedthatintruthandcouragethereisfoundwisdom。ItseemedtohimthattillMrs。
　　Traverscametostandbyhissidehehadneverknownwhattruthandcourageandwisdomwere。Withhiseyesonherfaceandhavingbeentoldthatinhereyesheappearedworthyofbeingbothcommandedandentreated，hefeltaninstantofcompletecontent，amomentof，asitwere，perfectemotionalrepose。
　　DuringthesilenceMrs。Traverswithaquicksideglancenoticedd’Alcacerasoneseesamaninamist，hismeredarkshapearrestedclosetothemuslinscreen。Shehadnodoubtthathewaslookingintheirdirectionandthathecouldseethemmuchmoreplainlythanshecouldseehim。Mrs。Traversthoughtsuddenlyhowanxioushemustbe；andsherememberedthathehadbeggedherforsomesign，forsomewarning，beforehand，atthemomentofcrisis。
　　Shehadunderstoodverywellhishintedrequestfortimetogetprepared。Ifhewastogetmorethanafewminutes，THISwasthemomenttomakehimasign——thesignhehadsuggestedhimself。
　　Mrs。Traversmovedbacktheleastbitsoastoletthelightfallinfrontofherandwithaslow，distinctmovementsheputherlefthandtoherforehead。
　　"Well，then，"sheheardLingard’sforciblemurmur，"well，then，Mrs。Travers，itmustbedoneto—night。"
　　Onemaybetrue，fearless，andwise，andyetcatchone’sbreathbeforethesimplefinalityofaction。Mrs。Traverscaughtherbreath："To—night！To—night！"shewhispered。D’Alcacer’sdarkandmistysilhouettebecamemoreblurred。HehadseenhersignandhadretreateddeeperwithintheCage。
　　"Yes，to—night，"affirmedLingard。"Now，atonce，withinthehour，thismoment，"hemurmured，fiercely，followingMrs。Traversinherrecoilingmovement。Shefeltherarmbeingseizedswiftly。
　　"Don’tyouseethatifitistodoanygood，thatiftheyarenottobedeliveredtomereslaughter，itmustbedonewhileallisdarkashore，beforeanarmedmobinboatscomesclamouringalongside？Yes。Beforethenightisanhourolder，sothatImaybehammeringatBelarab’sgatewhilealltheSettlementisstillasleep。"
　　Mrs。Traversdidn’tdreamofprotesting。Forthemomentshewasunabletospeak。Thismanwasveryfierceandjustassuddenlyasithadbeengripped（makingherthinkincongruouslyinthemidstofheragitationthattherewouldbecertainlyabruisethereinthemorning）shefeltherarmreleasedandapenitentialtonecomeintoLingard’smurmuringvoice。
　　"Andevennowit’snearlytoolate！Theroadwasplain，butIsawyouonitandmyheartfailedme。IwastherelikeanemptymanandIdarednotfaceyou。Youmustforgiveme。No，Ihadnorighttodoubtyouforamoment。IfeelasifIoughttogoonmykneesandbegyourpardonforforgettingwhatyouare，fordaringtoforget。"
　　"Why，KingTom，whatisit？"
　　"ItseemsasifIhadsinned，"sheheardhimsay。Heseizedherbytheshoulders，turnedherabout，movedherforwardasteportwo。Hishandswereheavy，hisforceirresistible，thoughhehimselfimaginedhewashandlinghergently。"Lookstraightbeforeyou，"hegrowledintoherear。"Doyouseeanything？"Mrs。
　　Travers，passivebetweentherigidarms，couldseenothingbut，faroff，themassed，featurelessshadowsoftheshore。
　　"No，Iseenothing，"shesaid。
　　"Youcan’tbelookingtherightway，"sheheardhimbehindher。
　　AndnowshefeltherheadbetweenLingard’shands。Hemovedittheleastbittotheright。"There！Seeit？"
　　"No。WhatamItolookfor？"
　　"Agleamoflight，"saidLingard，takingawayhishandssuddenly。
　　"Agleamthatwillgrowintoablazebeforeourboatcangethalfwayacrossthelagoon。"
　　EvenasLingardspokeMrs。Traverscaughtsightofaredsparkfaraway。ShehadlookedoftenenoughattheSettlement，asonthefaceofapaintingonacurtain，tohaveitsconfigurationfixedinhermind，toknowthatitwasonthebeachatitsendfurthestfromBelarab’sstockade。
　　"Thebrushwoodiscatching，"murmuredLingardinherear。"Iftheyhadsomedrygrassthewholepilewouldbeblazingbynow。"
　　"Andthismeans……"
　　"Itmeansthatthenewshasspread。AnditisbeforeTengga’senclosureonhisendofthebeach。That’swhereallthebrainsoftheSettlementare。Itmeanstalkandexcitementandplentyofcraftywords。Tengga’sfire！Itellyou，Mrs。Travers，thatbeforehalfanhourhaspassedDamanwillbetheretomakefriendswiththefatTengga，whoisreadytosaytohim，’Itoldyouso’。"
　　"Isee，"murmuredMrs。Travers。Lingarddrewhergentlytotherail。
　　"Andnowlookoverthereattheotherendofthebeachwheretheshadowsareheaviest。ThatisBelarab’sfort，hishouses，histreasure，hisdependents。That’swherethestrengthoftheSettlementis。Ikeptitup。Imadeitlast。Butwhatisitnow？
　　It’slikeaweaponinthehandofadeadman。Andyetit’sallwehavetolookto，ifindeedthereisstilltime。IsweartoyouI
　　wouldn’tdarelandthemindaylightforfeartheyshouldbeslaughteredonthebeach。"
　　"Thereisnotimetolose，"whisperedMrs。Travers，andLingard，too，spokeverylow。
　　"No，notifI，too，amtokeepwhatismyright。It’syouwhohavesaidit。"
　　"Yes，Ihavesaidit，"shewhispered，withoutliftingherhead。
　　Lingardmadeabrusquemovementatherelbowandbenthisheadclosetohershoulder。
　　"AndIwhomistrustedyou！LikeArabsdototheirgreatmen，I
　　oughttokissthehemofyourrobeinrepentanceforhavingdoubtedthegreatnessofyourheart。"
　　"Oh！myheart！"saidMrs。Travers，lightly，stillgazingatthefire，whichhadsuddenlyshotuptoatallblaze。"Icanassureyouithasbeenofverylittleaccountintheworld。"Shepausedforamomenttosteadyhervoice，thensaid，firmly，"Let’sgetthisover。"
　　"Totellyouthetruththeboathasbeenreadyforsometime。"
　　"Well，then……"
　　"Mrs。Travers，"saidLingardwithaneffort，"theyarepeopleofyourownkind。"Andsuddenlyheburstout："Icannottakethemashoreboundhandandfoot。"
　　"Mr。d’Alcacerknows。Youwillfindhimready。Eversincethebeginninghehasbeenpreparedforwhatevermighthappen。"
　　"Heisaman，"saidLingardwithconviction。"Butit’softheotherthatIamthinking。"
　　"Ah，theother，"sherepeated。"Then，whataboutmythoughts？
　　LuckilywehaveMr。d’Alcacer。Ishallspeaktohimfirst。"
　　SheturnedawayfromtherailandmovedtowardtheCage。
　　"Jorgenson，"thevoiceofLingardresoundedallalongthedeck，"getalightonthegangway。"ThenhefollowedMrs。Traversslowly。
　　VI
　　D’Alcacer，afterreceivinghiswarning，steppedbackandleanedagainsttheedgeofthetable。Hecouldnotignoreinhimselfacertainemotion。Andindeed，whenhehadaskedMrs。Traversforasignheexpectedtobemoved——buthehadnotexpectedthesigntocomesosoon。Heexpectedthisnighttopasslikeothernights，inbrokenslumbers，bodilydiscomfort，andtheunrestofdisconnectedthinking。Atthesametimehewassurprisedathisownemotion。Hehadflatteredhimselfonthepossessionofmorephilosophy。Hethoughtthatthisfamoussenseofself—preservationwasaqueerthing，apurelyanimalthing。"For，asathinkingman，"hereflected，"Ireallyoughtnottocare。"
　　Itwasprobablytheunusualthataffectedhim。Clearly。Ifhehadbeenlyingseriouslyillinaroominahotelandhadoverheardsomeominouswhispershewouldnothavecaredintheleast。Ah，butthenhewouldhavebeenill——andinillnessonegrowssoindifferent。Illnessisagreathelptounemotionalbehaviour，whichofcourseisthecorrectbehaviourforamanoftheworld。
　　Healmostregrettedhewasnotveryill。But，then，Mr。Traverswasobviouslyillanditdidnotseemtohelphimmuch。D’AlcacerglancedatthebedsteadwhereMr。Traverspreservedanimmobilitywhichstruckd’Alcacerasobviouslyaffected。Hemistrustedit。
　　GenerallyhemistrustedMr。Travers。Onecouldn’ttellwhathewoulddonext。Notthathecoulddomuchonewayoranother，butthatsomehowhethreatenedtorobthesituationofwhateverdignityitmayhavehadasastrokeoffate，asacalloncourage。Mr。d’Alcacer，acutelyobservantandalertfortheslightesthints，preferredtolookuponhimselfasthevictimnotofaswindlebutofaroughmannaivelyengagedinacontestwithheaven’sinjustice。D’Alcacerdidnotexaminehisheart，butsomelinesofaFrenchpoetcameintohismind，totheeffectthatinalltimesthosewhofoughtwithanunjustheavenhadpossessedthesecretadmirationandloveofmen。Hedidn’tgosofaraslovebuthecouldnotdenytohimselfthathisfeelingtowardLingardwassecretlyfriendlyand——well，appreciative。Mr。
　　Traverssatupsuddenly。Whatahorriblenuisance，thoughtd’Alcacer，fixinghiseyesonthetipsofhisshoeswiththehopethatperhapstheotherwouldliedownagain。Mr。Traversspoke。
　　"Stillup，d’Alcacer？"