"Iassureyouitisn’tlate。It’sdarkatsix，wedinedbeforeseven，thatmakesthenightlongandIamnotaverygoodsleeper；thatis，Icannotgotosleeptilllateinthenight。"
　　"Ienvyyou，"saidMr。Travers，speakingwithasortofdrowsyapathy。"Iamalwaysdroppingoffandtheawakeningsarehorrible。"
　　D’Alcacer，raisinghiseyes，noticedthatMrs。TraversandLingardhadvanishedfromthelight。Theyhadgonetotherailwhered’Alcacercouldnotseethem。SomepitymingledwithhisvexationatMr。Travers’snatchywakefulness。Therewassomethingweirdabouttheman，hereflected。"Jorgenson，"hebeganaloud。
　　"What’sthat？"snappedMr。Travers。
　　"It’sthenameofthatlankyoldstore—keeperwhoisalwaysaboutthedecks。"
　　"Ihaven’tseenhim。Idon’tseeanybody。Idon’tknowanybody。I
　　prefernottonotice。"
　　"Iwasonlygoingtosaythathegavemeapackofcards；wouldyoulikeagameofpiquet？"
　　"Idon’tthinkIcouldkeepmyeyesopen，"saidMr。Traversinanunexpectedlyconfidentialtone。"Isn’titfunny，d’Alcacer？AndthenIwakeup。It’stooawful。"
　　D’AlcacermadenoremarkandMr。Traversseemednottohaveexpectedany。
　　"WhenIsaidmywifewasmad，"hebegan，suddenly，causingd’Alcacertostart，"Ididn’tmeanitliterally，ofcourse。"Histonesoundedslightlydogmaticandhedidn’tseemtobeawareofanyintervalduringwhichhehadappearedtosleep。D’Alcacerwasconvincedmorethaneverthathehadbeenshamming，andresignedhimselfwearilytolisten，foldinghisarmsacrosshischest。
　　"WhatImeant，really，"continuedMr。Travers，"wasthatsheisthevictimofacraze。Societyissubjecttocrazes，asyouknowverywell。Theyarenotreprehensibleinthemselves，buttheworstofmywifeisthathercrazesareneverlikethoseofthepeoplewithwhomshenaturallyassociates。Theygenerallyruncountertothem。Thispeculiarityhasgivenmesomeanxiety，youunderstand，inthepositionweoccupy。Peoplewillbegintosaythatsheiseccentric。Doyouseeheranywhere，d’Alcacer？"
　　D’Alcacerwasthankfultobeabletosaythathedidn’tseeMrs。
　　Travers。Hedidn’tevenhearanymurmurs，thoughhehadnodoubtthateverybodyonboardtheEmmawaswideawakebynow。ButMr。
　　Traversinspiredhimwithinvinciblemistrustandhethoughtitprudenttoadd：
　　"Youforgetthatyourwifehasaroominthedeckhouse。"
　　Thiswasasfarashewouldgo，forheknewverywellthatshewasnotinthedeckhouse。Mr。Travers，completelyconvincedbythestatement，madenosound。Butneitherdidheliedownagain。
　　D’Alcacergavehimselfuptomeditation。Thenightseemedextremelyoppressive。AtLingard’sshoutforJorgenson，thatintheprofoundsilencestruckhisearsominously，heraisedhiseyesandsawMrs。TraversoutsidethedooroftheCage。Hestartedforwardbutshewasalreadywithin。Hesawshewasmoved。
　　Sheseemedoutofbreathandasifunabletospeakatfirst。
　　"Hadn’twebettershutthedoor？"suggestedd’Alcacer。
　　"CaptainLingard’scomingin，"shewhisperedtohim。"Hehasmadeuphismind。"
　　"That’sanexcellentthing，"commentedd’Alcacer，quietly。"I
　　concludefromthisthatweshallhearsomething。"
　　"Youshallhearitallfromme，"breathedoutMrs。Travers。
　　"Ah！"exclaimedd’Alcacerverylow。
　　BythattimeLingardhadentered，too，andthedecksoftheEmmawereallastirwithmovingfigures。Jorgenson’svoicewasalsoheardgivingdirections。FornearlyaminutethefourpersonswithintheCageremainedmotionless。AshadowyMalayinthegangwaysaidsuddenly："Sudah，Tuan，"andLingardmurmured，"Ready，Mrs。Travers。"
　　Sheseizedd’Alcacer’sarmandledhimtothesideoftheCagefurthestfromthecornerinwhichMr。Travers’bedwasplaced，whileLingardbusiedhimselfinprickingupthewickoftheCagelanternasifithadsuddenlyoccurredtohimthatthis，whateverhappened，shouldnotbeadeedofdarkness。Mr。Traversdidnothingbutturnhisheadtolookoverhisshoulder。
　　"Onemoment，"saidd’Alcacer，inalowtoneandsmilingatMrs。
　　Travers’agitation。"Beforeyoutellmeanythingletmeaskyou：
　　’HaveYOUmadeupyourmind？’"Hesawwithmuchsurpriseawideningofhereyes。Wasitindignation？Apauseasofsuspicionfellbetweenthosetwopeople。Thend’Alcacersaidapologetically："PerhapsIoughtnottohaveaskedthatquestion，"andLingardcaughtMrs。Travers’words，"Oh，Iamnotafraidtoanswerthatquestion。"
　　Thentheirvoicessank。Lingardhungthelampupagainandstoodidleintherevivedlight；butalmostimmediatelyheheardd’Alcacercallinghimdiscreetly。
　　"CaptainLingard！"
　　Hemovedtowardthematonce。AtthesameinstantMr。Travers’
　　headpivotedawayfromthegrouptoitsfrontalposition。
　　D’Alcacer，veryserious，spokeinafamiliarundertone。
　　"Mrs。TraverstellsmethatwemustbedelivereduptothoseMoorsonshore。"
　　"Yes，thereisnothingelseforit，"saidLingard。
　　"IconfessIamabitstartled，"saidd’Alcacer；butexceptforaslightlyhurriedutterancenobodycouldhaveguessedatanythingresemblingemotion。
　　"Ihavearighttomygoodname，"saidLingard，alsoverycalm，whileMrs。Traversnearhim，withhalf—veiledeyes，listenedimpassivelikeapresidinggenius。
　　"Iwouldn’tquestionthatforamoment，"concededd’Alcacer。"A
　　pointofhonourisnottobediscussed。Butthereissuchathingashumanity，too。Tobedelivereduphelplessly……"
　　"Perhaps！"interruptedLingard。"Butyouneedn’tfeelhopeless。I
　　amnotatlibertytogiveupmylifeforyourown。Mrs。Traversknowswhy。That，too，isengaged。"
　　"Alwaysonyourhonour？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Apromiseisapromise。"
　　"Nobodycanbeheldtotheimpossible，"remarkedd’Alcacer。
　　"Impossible！Whatisimpossible？Idon’tknowit。Iamnotamantotalkoftheimpossibleordodgebehindit。Ididnotbringyouhere。"
　　D’Alcacerloweredhisheadforamoment。"Ihavefinished，"hesaid，gravely。"ThatmuchIhadtosay。Ihopeyoudon’tthinkI
　　haveappearedundulyanxious。"
　　"It’sthebestpolicy，too。"Mrs。Traversmadeherselfheardsuddenly。Nothingofhermovedbutherlips，shedidnotevenraisehereyes。"It’stheonlypossiblepolicy。Youbelieveme，Mr。d’Alcacer？……"Hemadeanalmostimperceptiblemovementofthehead……"Well，then，Iputallmyhopeinyou，Mr。
　　d’Alcacer，togetthisoveraseasilyaspossibleandsaveusallfromsomeodiousscene。YouthinkperhapsthatitisIwhooughtto……"
　　"No，no！Idon’tthinkso，"interruptedd’Alcacer。"Itwouldbeimpossible。"
　　"Iamafraiditwould，"sheadmitted，nervously。
　　D’AlcacermadeagestureasiftobeghertosaynomoreandatoncecrossedovertoMr。Travers’sideoftheCage。Hedidnotwanttogivehimselftimetothinkabouthistask。Mr。Traverswassittinguponthecampbedsteadwithalightcottonsheetoverhislegs。Hestaredatnothing，andonapproachinghimd’Alcacerdisregardedtheslightsinkingofhisownheartatthisaspectwhichseemedtobethatofextremeterror。"Thisisawful，"hethought。Themankeptasstillasahareinitsform。
　　Theimpressedd’Alcacerhadtomakeanefforttobringhimselftotaphimlightlyontheshoulder。
　　"Themomenthascome，Travers，toshowsomefortitude，"hesaidwitheasyintimacy。Mr。Traverslookedupswiftly。"Ihavejustbeentalkingtoyourwife。ShehadacommunicationfromCaptainLingardforusboth。Itremainsforusnowtopreserveasmuchaspossibleourdignity。Ihopethatifnecessarywewillbothknowhowtodie。"
　　Inamomentofprofoundstillness，d’Alcacerhadtimetowonderwhetherhisfacewasasstonyinexpressionastheoneupturnedtohim。Butsuddenlyasmileappearedonit，whichwascertainlythelastthingd’Alcacerexpectedtosee。Anindubitablesmile。A
　　slightlycontemptuoussmile。
　　"Mywifehasbeenstuffingyourheadwithsomemoreofhernonsense。"Mr。Traversspokeinavoicewhichastonishedd’Alcacerasmuchasthesmile，avoicethatwasnotirritablenorpeevish，buthadadistinctnoteofindulgence。"Mydeard’Alcacer，thatcrazehasgotsuchaholdofherthatshewouldtellyouanysortoftale。Socialimpostors，mediums，fortune—tellers，charlatansofallsortsdoobtainastrangeinfluenceoverwomen。Youhaveseenthatsortofthingyourself。
　　Ihadatalkwithherbeforedinner。Theinfluencethatbandithasgotoverherisincredible。Ireallybelievethefellowishalfcrazyhimself。Theyoftenare，youknow。Igaveuparguingwithher。Now，whatisityouhavegottotellme？ButIwarnyouthatIamnotgoingtotakeitseriously。"
　　Herejectedbrisklythecottonsheet，puthisfeettothegroundandbuttonedhisjacket。D’Alcacer，ashetalked，becameawarebytheslightnoisebehindhimthatMrs。TraversandLingardwereleavingtheCage，buthewentontotheendandthenwaitedanxiouslyfortheanswer。
　　"See！Shehasfollowedhimoutondeck，"wereMr。Travers’firstwords。"Ihopeyouunderstandthatitisamerecraze。Youcan’thelpseeingthat。Lookathercostume。Shesimplyhaslostherhead。Luckilytheworldneedn’tknow。Butsupposethatsomethingsimilarhadhappenedathome。Itwouldhavebeenextremelyawkward。Oh！yes，Iwillcome。Iwillgoanywhere。Ican’tstandthishulk，thosepeople，thisinfernalCage。IbelieveIshouldfallillifIweretoremainhere。"
　　TheinwarddetachedvoiceofJorgensonmadeitselfheardnearthegangwaysaying："Theboathasbeenwaitingforthishourpast，KingTom。"
　　"Letusmakeavirtueofnecessityandgowithagoodgrace，"
　　saidd’Alcacer，readytotakeMr。Traversunderthearmpersuasively，forhedidnotknowwhattomakeofthatgentleman。
　　ButMr。Traversseemedanotherman。"Iamafraid。d’Alcacer，thatyou，too，arenotverystrong—minded。Iamgoingtotakeablanketoffthisbedstead……"Heflungithastilyoverhisarmandfollowedd’Alcacerclosely。"WhatIsuffermostlyfrom，strangetosay，iscold。"
　　Mrs。TraversandLingardwerewaitingnearthegangway。Toeverybody’sextremesurpriseMr。Traversaddressedhiswifefirst。
　　"Youwerealwayslaughingatpeople’scrazes，"waswhathesaid，"andnowyouhaveacrazeofyourown。Butwewon’tdiscussthat。"
　　D’Alcacerpassedon，raisinghiscaptoMrs。Travers，andwentdowntheship’ssideintotheboat。Jorgensonhadvanishedinhisownmannerlikeanexorcisedghost，andLingard，steppingback，lefthusbandandwifefacetoface。
　　"DidyouthinkIwasgoingtomakeafuss？"askedMr。Traversinaverylowvoice。"IassureyouIwouldrathergothanstayhere。
　　Youdidn’tthinkthat？Youhavelostallsenseofreality，ofprobability。IwasjustthinkingthiseveningthatIwouldratherbeanywherethanherelookingonatyou。Atyourfolly……"
　　Mrs。Travers’loud，"Martin！"madeLingardwince，causedd’Alcacertolifthisheaddownthereintheboat，andevenJorgenson，forwardsomewhereoutofsight，ceasedmumblinginhismoustache。TheonlypersonwhoseemednottohaveheardthatexclamationwasMr。Travershimself，whocontinuedsmoothly：
　　"……attheaberrationofyourmind，youwhoseemedsosuperiortocommoncredulities。Youarenotyourself，notatall，andsomedayyouwilladmittomethat……No，thebestthingwillbetoforgetit，asyouwillsoonseeyourself。Weshallnevermentionthatsubjectinthefuture。Iamcertainyouwillbeonlytoogladtoagreewithmeonthatpoint。"
　　"Howfaraheadareyoulooking？"askedMrs。Travers，findinghervoiceandeventheverytoneinwhichshewouldhaveaddressedhimhadtheybeenabouttopartinthehalloftheirtownhouse。
　　Shemighthavebeenaskinghimatwhattimeheexpectedtobehome，whileafootmanheldthedooropenandthebroughamwaitedinthestreet。
　　"Notveryfar。Thiscan’tlastmuchlonger。"Mr。Traversmadeamovementasiftoleaveherexactlyasthoughhewereratherpressedtokeepanappointment。"Bytheby，"hesaid，checkinghimself，"Isupposethefellowunderstandsthoroughlythatwearewealthy。Hecouldhardlydoubtthat。"
　　"It’sthelastthoughtthatwouldenterhishead，"saidMrs。
　　Travers。
　　"Oh，yes，justso，"Mr。Traversallowedalittleimpatiencetopierceunderhiscasualmanner。"ButIdon’tmindtellingyouthatIhavehadenoughofthis。Iampreparedtomake——ah！——tomakeconcessions。Alargepecuniarysacrifice。Onlythewholepositionissoabsurd！Hemightconceivablydoubtmygoodfaith。
　　Wouldn’titbejustaswellifyou，withyourparticularinfluence，wouldhinttohimthatwithmehewouldhavenothingtofear？Iamamanofmyword。"
　　"Thatisthefirstthinghewouldnaturallythinkofanyman，"
　　saidMrs。Travers。
　　"Willyoureyesneverbeopened？"Mr。Traversbegan，irritably，thengaveitup。"Well，somuchthebetterthen。Igiveyouafreehand。"
　　"Whatmadeyouchangeyourattitudelikethis？"askedMrs。
　　Travers，suspiciously。
　　"Myregardforyou，"heansweredwithouthesitation。
　　"Iintendedtojoinyouinyourcaptivity。Iwasjusttryingtopersuadehim……"
　　"Iforbidyouabsolutely，"whisperedMr。Travers，forcibly。"Iamgladtogetaway。Idon’twanttoseeyouagaintillyourcrazeisover。"
　　Shewasconfoundedbyhissecretvehemence。Butinstantlysucceedinghisfiercewhispercameashort，inanesocietylaughandamuchlouder，"NotthatIattachanyimportance……"
　　Hesprangaway，asitwere，fromhiswife，andashewentoverthegangwaywavedhishandtoheramiably。
　　LighteddimlybythelanternontheroofofthedeckhouseMrs。
　　Traversremainedverystillwithloweredheadandanaspectofprofoundmeditation。ItlastedbutaninstantbeforeshemovedoffandbrushingagainstLingardpassedonwithdowncasteyestoherdeckcabin。Lingardheardthedoorshut。Hewaitedawhile，madeamovementtowardthegangwaybutcheckedhimselfandfollowedMrs。Traversintohercabin。
　　Itwaspitchdarkinthere。Hecouldseeabsolutelynothingandwasoppressedbytheprofoundstillnessunstirredevenbythesoundofbreathing。
　　"Iamgoingonshore，"hebegan，breakingtheblackanddeathlikesilenceenclosinghimandtheinvisiblewoman。"Iwantedtosaygood—bye。"
　　"Youaregoingonshore，"repeatedMrs。Travers。Hervoicewasemotionless，blank，unringing。
　　"Yes，forafewhours，orforlife，"Lingardsaidinmeasuredtones。"Imayhavetodiewiththemortodiemaybeforothers。
　　Foryou，ifIonlyknewhowtomanageit，Iwouldwanttolive。I
　　amtellingyouthisbecauseitisdark。IftherehadbeenalightinhereIwouldn’thavecomein。"
　　"Iwishyouhadnot，"utteredthesameunringingwoman’svoice。
　　"Youarealwayscomingtomewiththoselivesandthosedeathsinyourhand。"
　　"Yes，it’stoomuchforyou，"wasLingard’sundertonedcomment。
　　"Youcouldbenootherthantrue。Andyouareinnocent！Don’twishmelife，butwishmeluck，foryouareinnocent——andyouwillhavetotakeyourchance。"
　　"Alllucktoyou，KingTom，"heheardhersayinthedarknessinwhichheseemednowtoperceivethegleamofherhair。"Iwilltakemychance。AndtrynottocomenearmeagainforIamwearyofyou。"
　　"Icanwellbelieveit，"murmuredLingard，andsteppedoutofthecabin，shuttingthedoorafterhimgently。Forhalfaminute，perhaps，thestillnesscontinued，andthensuddenlythechairfelloverinthedarkness。NextmomentMrs。Travers’headappearedinthelightofthelampleftontheroofofthedeckhouse。Herbarearmsgraspedthedoorposts。
　　"Waitamoment，"shesaid，loudly，intotheshadowsofthedeck。
　　Sheheardnofootsteps，sawnothingmovingexceptthevanishingwhiteshapeofthelateCaptainH。C。Jorgenson，whowasindifferenttothelifeofmen。"Wait，KingTom！"sheinsisted，raisinghervoice；then，"Ididn’tmeanit。Don’tbelieveme！"
　　shecried，recklessly。
　　Forthesecondtimethatnightawoman’svoicestartledtheheartsofmenonboardtheEmma。AllexcepttheheartofoldJorgenson。TheMalaysintheboatlookedupfromtheirthwarts。
　　D’Alcacer，sittinginthesternsheetsbesideLingard，feltasinkingofhisheart。
　　"What’sthis？"heexclaimed。"Iheardyournameondeck。Youarewanted，Ithink。"
　　"Shoveoff，"orderedLingard，inflexibly，withoutevenlookingatd’Alcacer。Mr。Traverswastheonlyonewhodidn’tseemtobeawareofanything。AlongtimeaftertheboatlefttheEmma’ssideheleanedtowardd’Alcacer。
　　"Ihaveamostextraordinaryfeeling，"hesaidinacautiousundertone。"Iseemtobeintheair——Idon’tknow。Areweonthewater，d’Alcacer？Areyouquitesure？Butofcourse，weareonthewater。"
　　"Yes，"saidd’Alcacer，inthesametone。"CrossingtheStyx——perhaps。"HeheardMr。Traversutteranunmoved"Verylikely，"whichhedidnotexpect。Lingard，hishandonthetiller，satlikeamanofstone。
　　"Thenyourpointofviewhaschanged，"whisperedd’Alcacer。
　　"Itoldmywifetomakeanoffer，"wentontheearnestwhisperoftheotherman。"Asumofmoney。ButtotellyouthetruthIdon’tbelieveverymuchinitssuccess。"
　　D’Alcacermadenoanswerandonlywonderedwhetherhedidn’tlikebetterMr。Travers’other，unreasonablemood。TherewasnodenyingthefactthatMr。Traverswasatroublingperson。Nowhesuddenlygrippedd’Alcacer’sfore—armandaddedunderhisbreath：
　　"Idoubteverything。Idoubtwhethertheofferwilleverbemade。"
　　Allthiswasnotveryimpressive。Therewassomethingpitifulinit：whisper，grip，shudder，asofachildfrightenedinthedark。
　　Buttheemotionwasdeep。Oncemorethatevening，butthistimearousedbythehusband’sdistress，d’Alcacer’swonderapproachedthebordersofawe。
　　PARTVI。THECLAIMOFLIFEANDTHETOLLOFDEATH
　　I
　　"HaveyougotKingTom’swatchinthere？"saidavoicethatseemednottoattachtheslightestimportancetothequestion。
　　Jorgenson，outsidethedoorofMrs。Travers’partofthedeckhouse，waitedfortheanswer。Heheardalowcryverymuchlikeamoan，thestartledsoundofpainthatmaybesometimesheardinsickrooms。Butitmovedhimnotatall。Hewouldneverhavedreamtofopeningthedoorunlesstoldtodoso，inwhichcasehewouldhavebeheld，withcompleteindifference，Mrs。
　　Traversextendedonthefloorwithherheadrestingontheedgeofthecampbedstead（onwhichLingardhadneverslept），asthoughshehadsubsidedtherefromakneelingposturewhichistheattitudeofprayer，supplication，ordefeat。ThehoursofthenighthadpassedMrs。Traversby。Afterflingingherselfonherknees，shedidn’tknowwhy，sinceshecouldthinkofnothingtoprayfor，hadnothingtoinvoke，andwastoofargoneforsuchafutilethingasdespair，shehadremainedtheretillthesenseofexhaustionhadgrownonhertothepointinwhichshelostherbeliefinherpowertorise。Inahalf—sittingattitude，herheadrestingagainsttheedgeofthecouchandherarmsflungaboveherhead，shesankintoanindifference，themereresignationofaworn—outbodyandaworn—outmindwhichoftenistheonlysortofrestthatcomestopeoplewhoaredesperatelyillandiswelcomeenoughinaway。ThevoiceofJorgensonrousedheroutofthatstate。Shesatup，achingineverylimbandcoldallover。
　　Jorgenson，behindthedoor，repeatedwithlifelessobstinacy：
　　"DoyouseeKingTom’swatchinthere？"
　　Mrs。Traversgotupfromthefloor。Shetottered，snatchingattheair，andfoundthebackofthearmchairunderherhand。
　　"Who’sthere？"
　　Shewasalsoreadytoask："WhereamI？"butsherememberedandatoncebecamethepreyofthatactivedreadwhichhadbeenlyingdormantforafewhoursinheruneasyandprostratebody。"Whattimeisit？"shefalteredout。
　　"Dawn，"pronouncedtheimperturbablevoiceatthedoor。Itseemedtoherthatitwasawordthatcouldmakeanyheartsinkwithapprehension。Dawn！Shestoodappalled。Andthetonelessvoiceoutsidethedoorinsisted：
　　"YoumusthaveTom’swatchthere！"
　　"Ihaven’tseenit，"shecriedasiftormentedbyadream。
　　"Lookinthatdeskthing。Ifyoupushopentheshutteryouwillbeabletosee。"
　　Mrs。Traversbecameawareoftheprofounddarknessofthecabin。
　　Jorgensonheardherstaggeringinthere。Afteramomentawoman’svoice，whichstruckevenhimasstrange，saidinfainttones：
　　"Ihaveit。It’sstopped。"
　　"Itdoesn’tmatter。Idon’twanttoknowthetime。Thereshouldbeakeyabout。Seeitanywhere？"
　　"Yes，it’sfastenedtothewatch，"thedazedvoiceansweredfromwithin。Jorgensonwaitedbeforemakinghisrequest。"Willyoupassitouttome？There’spreciouslittletimeleftnow！"
　　Thedoorflewopen，whichwascertainlysomethingJorgensonhadnotexpected。Hehadexpectedbutahandwiththewatchprotrudedthroughanarrowcrack，Buthedidn’tstartbackorgiveanyothersignofsurpriseatseeingMrs。Traversfullydressed。
　　Againstthefaintclearnessintheframeoftheopenshuttershepresentedtohimthedarksilhouetteofhershoulderssurmountedbyasleekhead，becauseherhairwasstillinthetwoplaits。ToJorgensonMrs。Traversinherun—Europeandresshadalwaysbeendispleasing，almostmonstrous。Herstature，hergestures，hergeneralcarriagestruckhiseyeasabsurdlyincongruouswithaMalaycostume，tooample，toofree，toobold——offensive。ToMrs。
　　Travers，Jorgenson，intheduskofthepassage，hadtheaspectofadimwhiteghost，andhechilledherbyhisghost’saloofness。
　　Hepickedupthewatchfromheroutspreadpalmwithoutawordofthanks，onlymumblinginhismoustache，"H’m，yes，that’sit。I
　　haven’tyetforgottenhowtocountsecondscorrectly，butit’sbettertohaveawatch。"
　　Shehadnottheslightestnotionwhathemeant。Andshedidnotcare。Hermindremainedconfusedandthesenseofbodilydiscomfortoppressedher。Shewhispered，shamefacedly，"IbelieveI’veslept。"
　　"Ihaven’t，"mumbledJorgenson，growingmoreandmoredistincttohereyes。ThebrightnessoftheshortdawnincreasedrapidlyasifthesunwereimpatienttolookupontheSettlement。"Nofearofthat，"headded，boastfully。
　　ItoccurredtoMrs。Traversthatperhapsshehadnotslepteither。Herstatehadbeenmorelikeanimperfect，half—conscious，quiveringdeath。Sheshudderedattherecollection。
　　"Whatanawfulnight，"shemurmured，drearily。
　　TherewasnothingtohopeforfromJorgenson。Sheexpectedhimtovanish，indifferent，likeaphantomofthedeadcarryingofftheappropriatelydeadwatchinhishandforsomeunearthlypurpose。
　　Jorgensondidn’tmove。Hiswasaninsensible，almostasenselesspresence！Nothingcouldbeextortedfromit。ButawaveofanguishasconfusedasallherothersensationssweptMrs。
　　Traversoffherfeet。
　　"Can’tyoutellmesomething？"shecried。
　　ForhalfaminuteperhapsJorgensonmadenosound；then："ForyearsIhavebeentellinganybodywhocaredtoask，"hemumbledinhismoustache。"TellingTom，too。AndTomknewwhathewantedtodo。How’sonetoknowwhatYOUareafter？"
　　Shehadneverexpectedtohearsomanywordsfromthatrigidshadow。Itsmonotonousmumblewasfascinating，itssuddenloquacitywasshocking。Andintheprofoundstillnessthatreignedoutsideitwasasiftherehadbeennooneleftintheworldwithherbutthephantomofthatoldadventurer。Hewasheardagain："WhatIcouldtellyouwouldbeworsethanpoison。"
　　Mrs。TraverswasnotfamiliarwithJorgenson’sconsecratedphrases。Themechanicalvoice，thewordsthemselves，hisairofabstractionappalledher。Andhehadn’tdoneyet；shecaughtsomemoreofhisunconcernedmumbling："ThereisnothingIdon’tknow，"andtheabsurdityofthestatementwasalsoappalling。
　　Mrs。Traversgaspedandwithawildlittlelaugh：
　　"ThenyouknowwhyIcalledafterKingTomlastnight。"
　　Heglancedawayalonghisshoulderthroughthedoorofthedeckhouseatthegrowingbrightnessoftheday。Shedidso，too。
　　Itwascoming。Ithadcome！Anotherday！AnditseemedtoMrs。
　　Traversaworsecalamitythananydiscoveryshehadmadeinherlife，thananythingshecouldhaveimaginedtocometoher。Theverymagnitudeofhorrorsteadiedher，seemedtocalmheragitationassomekindsoffataldrugsdobeforetheykill。ShelaidasteadyhandonJorgenson’ssleeveandspokequietly，distinctly，urgently。
　　"Youwereondeck。WhatIwanttoknowiswhetherIwasheard？"
　　"Yes，"saidJorgenson，absently，"Iheardyou。"Then，asifrousedalittle，headdedlessmechanically："Thewholeshipheardyou。"