Wherewasthatthing？Shefeltsurethattheyhadnotmovedaninchfromthatspot。PresentlyherfootfounditandstillgrippingLingard’sforearmshestoopedtosecureitproperly。
　　Whenshestoodup，stillholdinghisarm，theyconfrontedeachother，herigidinaneffortofself—commandbutfeelingasifthesurgesoftheheaviestseathathecouldrememberinhislifewererunningthroughhisheart；andthewomanasifemptiedofallfeelingbyherexperience，withoutthoughtyet，butbeginningtoregainhersenseofthesituationandthememoryoftheimmediatepast。
　　"Ihavebeenwatchingatthatloopholeforanhour，eversincetheycamerunningtomewiththatstoryoftherockets，"saidLingard。"IwasshutupwithBelarabthen。Iwaslookingoutwhenthetorchblazedandyousteppedashore。IthoughtIwasdreaming。ButwhatcouldIdo？IfeltImustrushtoyoubutI
　　darednot。Thatclumpofpalmsisfullofmen。Soarethehousesyousawthattimeyoucameashorewithme。Fullofmen。Armedmen。Atriggerissoonpulledandwhenonceshootingbegins……Andyouwalkingintheopenwiththatlightaboveyourhead！I
　　didn’tdare。Youweresaferalone。Ihadthestrengthtoholdmyselfinandwatchyoucomeupfromtheshore。No！Nomanthateverlivedhadseensuchasight。Whatdidyoucomefor？"
　　"Didn’tyouexpectsomebody？Idon’tmeanme，Imeanamessenger？"
　　"No！"saidLingard，wonderingathisownself—control。"Whydidheletyoucome？"
　　"YoumeanCaptainJorgenson？Oh，herefusedatfirst。Hesaidthathehadyourorders。"
　　"Howonearthdidyoumanagetogetroundhim？"saidLingardinhissoftesttones。
　　"Ididnottry，"shebeganandcheckedherself。Lingard’squestion，thoughhereallydidn’tseemtocaremuchaboutananswer，hadarousedafreshhersuspicionofJorgenson’schangeoffront。"Ididn’thavetosayverymuchatthelast，"shecontinued，gaspingyetalittleandfeelingherpersonality，crushedtonothinginthehugofthosearms，expandagaintoitsfullsignificancebeforetheattentiveimmobilityofthatman。
　　"CaptainJorgensonhasalwayslookeduponmeasanuisance。
　　Perhapshehadmadeuphismindtogetridofmeevenagainstyourorders。Ishequitesane？"
　　ShereleasedherfirmholdofthatironforearmwhichfellslowlybyLingard’sside。Shehadregainedfullythepossessionofherpersonality。Thereremainedonlyafading，slightlybreathlessimpressionofashortflightabovethatearthonwhichherfeetwerefirmlyplantednow。"Andisthatall？"sheaskedherself，notbitterly，butwithasortoftendercontempt。
　　"Heissosane，"soundedLingard’svoice，gloomily，"thatifI
　　hadlistenedtohimyouwouldnothavefoundmehere。"
　　"Whatdoyoumeanbyhere？Inthisstockade？"
　　"Anywhere，"hesaid。
　　"Andwhatwouldhavehappenedthen？"
　　"Godknows，"heanswered。"Whatwouldhavehappenediftheworldhadnotbeenmadeinsevendays？Ihaveknownyouforjustaboutthattime。Itbeganbymecomingtoyouatnight——likeathiefinthenight。WherethedevildidIhearthat？AndthatmanyouaremarriedtothinksIamnobetterthanathief。"
　　"ItoughttobeenoughforyouthatInevermadeamistakeastowhatyouare，thatIcometoyouinlessthantwenty—fourhoursafteryouleftmecontemptuouslytomydistress。Don’tpretendyoudidn’thearmecallafteryou。Oh，yes，youheard。ThewholeshipheardmeforIhadnoshame。"
　　"Yes，youcame，"saidLingard，violently。"Buthaveyoureallycome？Ican’tbelievemyeyes！Areyoureallyhere？"
　　"Thisisadarkspot，luckily，"saidMrs。Travers。"Butcanyoureallyhaveanydoubt？"sheadded，significantly。
　　Hemadeasuddenmovementtowardher，betrayingsomuchpassionthatMrs。Traversthought，"Ishan’tcomeoutalivethistime，"
　　andyethewasthere，motionlessbeforeher，asthoughhehadneverstirred。Itwasmoreasthoughtheearthhadmadeasuddenmovementunderhisfeetwithoutbeingabletodestroyhisbalance。ButtheearthunderMrs。Travers’feethadmadenomovementandforasecondshewasoverwhelmedbywondernotatthisproofofherownself—possessionbutattheman’simmensepoweroverhimself。Ifithadnotbeenforherstrangeinwardexhaustionshewouldperhapshavesurrenderedtothatpower。Butitseemedtoherthatshehadnothinginherworthsurrendering，anditwasinaperfectlyeventonethatshesaid，"Givemeyourarm，CaptainLingard。Wecan’tstayallnightonthisspot。"
　　Astheymovedonshethought，"Thereisrealgreatnessinthatman。"Hewasgreateveninhisbehaviour。Noapologies，noexplanations，noabasement，noviolence，andnoteventheslightesttremoroftheframeholdingthatboldandperplexedsoul。SheknewthatforcertainbecauseherfingerswererestinglightlyonLingard’sarmwhileshewalkedslowlybyhissideasthoughheweretakingherdowntodinner。Andyetshecouldn’tsupposeforamoment，that，likeherself，hewasemptiedofallemotion。Sheneverbeforewassoawareofhimasadangerousforce。"Heisreallyruthless，"shethought。Theyhadjustlefttheshadowoftheinnerdefencesaboutthegatewhenaslightlyhoarse，apologeticvoicewasheardbehindthemrepeatinginsistently，whatevenMrs。Travers’eardetectedtobeasortofformula。Thewordswere："Thereisthisthing——thereisthisthing——thereisthisthing。"Theyturnedround。
　　"Oh，myscarf，"saidMrs。Travers。
　　Ashort，squat，broad—facedyoungfellowhavingforallcostumeapairofwhitedrawerswasofferingthescarfthrownoverbothhisarms，asiftheyhadbeensticks，andholdingitrespectfullyasfaraspossiblefromhisperson。LingardtookitfromhimandMrs。Traversclaimeditatonce。"Don’tforgettheproprieties，"
　　shesaid。"Thisisalsomyfaceveil。"
　　ShewasarrangingitaboutherheadwhenLingardsaid，"Thereisnoneed。Iamtakingyoutothosegentlemen。"——"Iwilluseitallthesame，"saidMrs。Travers。"Thisthingworksbothways，asamatterofproprietyorasamatterofprecaution。TillIhaveanopportunityoflookingintoamirrornothingwillpersuademethatthereisn’tsomechangeinmyface。"Lingardswunghalfroundandgazeddownather。Veilednowsheconfrontedhimboldly。"Tellme，CaptainLingard，howmanyeyeswerelookingatusalittlewhileago？"
　　"Doyoucare？"heasked。
　　"Notintheleast，"shesaid。"Amillionstarswerelookingon，too，andwhatdiditmatter？TheywerenotoftheworldIknow。
　　Andit’sjustthesamewiththeeyes。TheyarenotoftheworldI
　　livein。"
　　Lingardthought："Nobodyis。"Neverbeforehadsheseemedtohimmoreunapproachable，moredifferentandmoreremote。Theglowofanumberofsmallfireslightedthegroundonly，andbroughtouttheblackbulkofmenlyingdowninthethindriftofsmoke。Onlyoneofthesefires，ratherapartandburninginfrontofthehousewhichwasthequarteroftheprisoners，mighthavebeencalledablazeandeventhatwasnotagreatone。Itdidn’tpenetratethedarkspacebetweenthepilesandthedepthoftheverandahabovewhereonlyacoupleofheadsandtheglintofaspearheadcouldbeseendimlyintheplayofthelight。Butdownonthegroundoutside，theblackshapeofamanseatedonabenchhadanintenserelief。Anotherintenselyblackshadowthrewahandfulofbrushwoodonthefireandwentaway。Themanonthebenchgotup。Itwasd’Alcacer。HeletLingardandMrs。Traverscomequitecloseuptohim。Extremesurpriseseemedtohavemadehimdumb。
　　"Youdidn’texpect……"beganMrs。Traverswithsomeembarrassmentbeforethatmuteattitude。
　　"Idoubtedmyeyes，"struckind’Alcacer，whoseemedembarrassed，too。Nextmomentherecoveredhistoneandconfessedsimply："AtthemomentIwasn’tthinkingofyou，Mrs。Travers。"Hepassedhishandoverhisforehead。"IhardlyknowwhatIwasthinkingof。"
　　Inthelightoftheshooting—upflameMrs。Traverscouldseed’Alcacer’sface。Therewasnosmileonit。Shecouldnotremembereverseeinghimsograveand，asitwere，sodistant。
　　SheabandonedLingard’sarmandmovedclosertothefire。
　　"Ifancyyouwereveryfaraway，Mr。d’Alcacer，"shesaid。
　　"Thisisthesortoffreedomofwhichnothingcandepriveus，"heobserved，lookinghardatthemannerinwhichthescarfwasdrawnacrossMrs。Travers’face。"It’spossibleIwasfaraway，"hewenton，"butIcanassureyouthatIdon’tknowwhereIwas。
　　Lessthananhouragowehadagreatexcitementhereaboutsomerockets，butIdidn’tshareinit。TherewasnooneIcouldaskaquestionof。Thecaptainherewas，Iunderstood，engagedinamostmomentousconversationwiththekingorthegovernorofthisplace。"
　　HeaddressedLingard，directly。"MayIaskwhetheryouhavereachedanyconclusionasyet？ThatMoorisaverydilatoryperson，Ibelieve。"
　　"Anydirectattackhewould，ofcourse，resist，"saidLingard。
　　"And，sofar，youareprotected。ButImustadmitthatheisratherangrywithme。He’stiredofthewholebusiness。Helovespeaceaboveanythingintheworld。ButIhaven’tfinishedwithhimyet。"
　　"AsfarasIunderstoodfromwhatyoutoldmebefore，"saidMr。
　　d’Alcacer，withaquicksideglanceatMrs。Travers’uncoveredandattentiveeyes，"asfarasIcanseehemaygetallthepeacehewantsatoncebydrivingustwo，ImeanMr。Traversandmyself，outofthegateontothespearsofthoseotherenragedbarbarians。AndtherearesomeofhiscounsellorswhoadvisehimtodothatverythingnolaterthanthebreakofdayI
　　understand。"
　　Lingardstoodforamomentperfectlymotionless。
　　"That’saboutit，"hesaidinanunemotionaltone，andwentawaywithaheavystepwithoutgivinganotherlookatd’AlcacerandMrs。Travers，whoafteramomentfacedeachother。
　　"Youhaveheard？"saidd’Alcacer。"Ofcoursethatdoesn’taffectyourfateinanyway，andastohimheismuchtooprestigioustobekilledlight—heartedly。Whenallthisisoveryouwillwalktriumphantlyonhisarmoutofthisstockade；forthereisnothinginallthistoaffecthisgreatness，hisabsolutevalueintheeyesofthosepeople——andindeedinanyothereyes。"
　　D’AlcacerkepthisglanceavertedfromMrs。Traversandassoonashehadfinishedspeakingbusiedhimselfindraggingthebenchalittlewayfurtherfromthefire。WhentheysatdownonithekepthisdistancefromMrs。Travers。Shemadenosignofunveilingherselfandhereyeswithoutafaceseemedtohimstrangelyunknownanddisquieting。
　　"Thesituationinanutshell，"shesaid。"Youhavearrangeditallbeautifully，eventomytriumphalexit。Well，andwhatthen？
　　No，youneedn’tanswer，ithasnointerest。IassureyouIcameherenotwithanynotionofmarchingoutintriumph，asyoucallit。Icamehere，tospeakinthemostvulgarway，tosaveyourskin——andmine。"
　　Hervoicecamemuffledtod’Alcacer’searswithachangedcharacter，eventotheveryintonation。Abovethewhiteandembroideredscarfhereyesinthefirelighttransfixedhim，blackandsosteadythateventheredsparksofthereflectedglaredidnotmoveinthem。Heconcealedthestrongimpressionshemade。Hebowedhisheadalittle。
　　"Ibelieveyouknowperfectlywellwhatyouaredoing。"
　　"No！Idon’tknow，"shesaid，morequicklythanhehadeverheardherspeakbefore。"Firstofall，Idon’tthinkheissosafeasyouimagine。Oh，yes，hehasprestigeenough，Idon’tquestionthat。Butyouareapportioninglifeanddeathwithtoomuchassurance……"
　　"Iknowmyportion，"murmuredd’Alcacer，gently。AmomentofsilencefellinwhichMrs。Travers’eyesendedbyintimidatingd’Alcacer，wholookedaway。Theflameofthefirehadsunklow。
　　Inthedarkagglomerationofbuildings，whichmighthavebeencalledBelarab’spalace，therewasacertainanimation，aflittingofpeople，voicescallingandanswering，thepassingtoandfrooflightsthatwouldilluminatesuddenlyaheavypile，thecornerofahouse，theeavesofalow—pitchedroof，whileintheopenpartsofthestockadethearmedmensleptbytheexpiringfires。
　　Mrs。Traverssaid，suddenly，"ThatJorgensonisnotfriendlytous。"
　　"Possibly。"
　　Withclaspedhandsandleaningoverhiskneesd’Alcacerhadassentedinaverylowtone。Mrs。Travers，unobserved，pressedherhandstoherbreastandfelttheshapeofthering，thick，heavy，setwithabigstone。Itwasthere，secret，hungagainstherheart，andenigmatic。Whatdiditmean？Whatcoulditmean？
　　Whatwasthefeelingitcouldarouseortheactionitcouldprovoke？AndshethoughtwithcompunctionthatsheoughttohavegivenittoLingardatonce，withoutthinking，withouthesitating。"There！ThisiswhatIcamefor。Togiveyouthis。"
　　Yes，buttherehadcomeanintervalwhenshehadbeenabletothinkofnothing，andsincethenshehadhadthetimetoreflect——unfortunately。TorememberJorgenson’shostile，contemptuousglanceenvelopingherfromheadtofootatthebreakofadayafteranightoflonelyanguish。Andnowwhileshesatthereveiledfromhiskeensighttherewasthatotherman，thatd’Alcacer，prophesying。Oyes，triumphant。Sheknewalreadywhatthatwas。Mrs。Traversbecameafraidofthering。Shefeltreadytopluckitfromherneckandcastitaway。
　　"Imistrusthim，"shesaid。——"Youdo！"exclaimedd’Alcacer，verylow。——"ImeanthatJorgenson。Heseemsamercilesssortofcreature。"——"Heisindifferenttoeverything，"saidd’Alcacer。——"Itmaybeamask。"——"Haveyousomeevidence，Mrs。
　　Travers？"
　　"No，"saidMrs。Traverswithouthesitation。"Ihavemyinstinct。"
　　D’Alcacerremainedsilentforawhileasthoughhewerepursuinganothertrainofthoughtaltogether，theninagentle，almostplayfultone："IfIwereawoman，"hesaid，turningtoMrs。
　　Travers，"Iwouldalwaystrustmyintuition。"——"Ifyouwereawoman，Mr。d’Alcacer，IwouldnotbespeakingtoyouinthiswaybecausethenIwouldbesuspecttoyou。"
　　Thethoughtthatbeforelongperhapshewouldbeneithermannorwomanbutalumpofcoldclay，crossedd’Alcacer’smind，whichwasliving，alert，andunsubduedbythedanger。HehadwelcomedthearrivalofMrs。Traverssimplybecausehehadbeenverylonelyinthatstockade，Mr。Travershavingfallenintoaphaseofsulkscomplicatedwithshiveringfits。OfLingardd’Alcacerhadseenalmostnothingsincetheyhadlanded，fortheManofFatewasextremelybusynegotiatingintherecessesofBelarab’smainhut；andthethoughtthathislifewasbeingamatterofarduousbargainingwasnotagreeabletoMr。d’Alcacer。TheChief’sdependentsandthearmedmengarrisoningthestockadepaidverylittleattentiontohimapparently，andthisgavehimthefeelingofhiscaptivitybeingveryperfectandhopeless。
　　Duringtheafternoon，whilepacingtoandfrointhebitofshadethrownbytheglorifiedsortofhutinsidewhichMr。Traversshiveredandsulkedmisanthropically，hehadbeenawareofthemoredistantverandahsbecomingfillednowandthenbythemuffledformsofwomenofBelarab’shouseholdtakingadistantandcuriousviewofthewhiteman。Allthiswasirksome。Hefoundhismenacedlifeextremelydifficulttogetthrough。Yes，hewelcomedthearrivalofMrs。Traverswhobroughtwithheratragicnoteintotheemptygloom。
　　"Suspicionisnotinmynature，Mrs。Travers，Iassureyou，andI
　　hopethatyouonyoursidewillneversuspecteithermyreserveormyfrankness。Irespectthemysteriousnatureofyourconvictionbuthasn’tJorgensongivenyousomeoccasionto……
　　"
　　"Hehatesme，"saidMrs。Travers，andfrownedatd’Alcacer’sincipientsmile。"Itisn’tadelusiononmypart。Theworstisthathehatesmenotformyself。Ibelieveheiscompletelyindifferenttomyexistence。JorgensonhatesmebecauseasitwereIrepresentyoutwowhoareindanger，becauseitisyoutwothatarethetroubleandI……Well！"
　　"Yes，yes，that’scertain，"saidd’Alcacer，hastily。"ButJorgensoniswronginmakingyouthescapegoat。ForifyouwerenotherecoolreasonwouldstepinandwouldmakeLingardpauseinhispassiontomakeakingoutofanexile。IfweweremurdereditwouldcertainlymakesomestirintheworldintimeandhewouldfallunderthesuspicionofcomplicitywiththosewildandinhumanMoors。Whowouldregardthegreatnessofhisday—dreams，hisengagedhonour，hischivalrousfeelings？Nothingcouldsavehimfromthatsuspicion。Andbeingwhatheis，youunderstandme，Mrs。Travers（butyouknowhimmuchbetterthanI
　　do），itwouldmorallykillhim。"
　　"Heavens！"whisperedMrs。Travers。"Thishasneveroccurredtome。"Thosewordsseemedtolosethemselvesinthefoldsofthescarfwithoutreachingd’Alcacer，whocontinuedinhisgentletone：
　　’"However，asitis，hewillbesafeenoughwhateverhappens。Hewillhaveyourtestimonytoclearhim。"
　　Mrs。Traversstoodup，suddenly，butstillcarefultokeepherfacecovered，shethrewtheendofthescarfoverhershoulder。
　　"IfearthatJorgenson，"shecriedwithsuppressedpassion。"Onecan’tunderstandwhatthatmanmeanstodo。IthinkhimsodangerousthatifIwere，forinstance，entrustedwithamessagebearingonthesituation，Iwould……suppressit。"
　　D’Alcacerwaslookingupfromtheseat，fullofwonder。Mrs。
　　Traversappealedtohiminacalmvoicethroughthefoldsofthescarf：
　　"Tellme，Mr。d’Alcacer，youwhocanlookonitcalmly，wouldn’tIberight？"
　　"Why，hasJorgensontoldyouanything？"
　　"Directly——nothing，exceptaphraseortwowhichreallyIcouldnotunderstand。Theyseemedtohaveahiddensenseandheappearedtoattachsomemysteriousimportancetothemthathedarednotexplaintome。"
　　"Thatwasariskonhispart，"exclaimedd’Alcacer。"Andhetrustedyou。Whyyou，Iwonder！"
　　"Whocantellwhatnotionshehasinhishead？Mr。d’Alcacer，I
　　believehisonlyobjectistocallCaptainLingardawayfromus。
　　Iunderstooditonlyafewminutesago。Ithasdawneduponme。
　　Allhewantsistocallhimoff。"
　　"Callhimoff，"repeatedd’Alcacer，alittlebewilderedbythearousedfireofherconviction。"IamsureIdon’twanthimcalledoffanymorethanyoudo；and，frankly，Idon’tbelieveJorgensonhasanysuchpower。Butuponthewhole，andifyoufeelthatJorgensonhasthepower，Iwould——yes，ifIwereinyourplaceIthinkIwouldsuppressanythingIcouldnotunderstand。"
　　Mrs。Traverslistenedtotheveryend。Hereyes——theyappearedincrediblysombretod’Alcacer——seemedtowatchthefallofeverydeliberatewordandafterhehadceasedtheyremainedstillforanappreciabletime。Thensheturnedawaywithagesturethatseemedtosay："Sobeit。"
　　D’Alcacerraisedhisvoicesuddenlyafterher。"Stay！Don’tforgetthatnotonlyyourhusband’sbutmyhead，too，isbeingplayedatthatgame。Myjudgmentisnot……"
　　Shestoppedforamomentandfreedherlips。Intheprofoundstillnessofthecourtyardherclearvoicemadetheshadowsatthenearestfiresstiralittlewithlowmurmursofsurprise。
　　"Oh，yes，IrememberwhoseheadsIhavetosave，"shecried。"Butinalltheworldwhoistheretosavethatmanfromhimself？"
　　V
　　D’Alcacersatdownonthebenchagain。"Iwonderwhatsheknows，"
　　hethought，"andIwonderwhatIhavedone。"HewonderedalsohowfarhehadbeensincereandhowfaraffectedbyaverynaturalaversionfrombeingmurderedobscurelybyferociousMoorswithallthecircumstancesofbarbarity。Itwasaverynakeddeathtocomeupononesuddenly。Itwasrobbedofallhelpfulillusions，suchasthefreewillofasuicide，theheroismofawarrior，ortheexaltationofamartyr。"Hadn’tIbettermakesomesortoffightofit？"hedebatedwithhimself。Hesawhimselfrushingatthenakedspearswithoutanyenthusiasm。Orwouldn’titbebettertogoforthtomeethisdoom（somewhereoutsidethestockadeonthathorriblebeach）withcalmdignity。"Pah！Ishallbeprobablyspearedthroughthebackinthebeastliestpossiblefashion，"hethoughtwithaninwardshudder。Itwascertainlynotashudderoffear，forMr。d’Alcacerattachednohighvaluetolife。ItwasashudderofdisgustbecauseMr。d’Alcacerwasacivilizedmanandthoughhehadnoillusionsaboutcivilizationhecouldnotbutadmitthesuperiorityofitsmethods。Itofferedtooneacertainrefinementofform，acomelinessofproceedingsanddefinitesafeguardsagainstdeadlysurprises。"Howidleallthisis，"hethought，finally。Hisnextthoughtwasthatwomenwereveryresourceful。Itwastrue，hewentonmeditatingwithunwontedcynicism，thatstrictlyspeakingtheyhadonlyoneresourcebut，generally，itserved——itserved。
　　Hewassurprisedbyhissupremelyshamelessbitternessatthisjuncture。Itwassouncalledfor。Thissituationwastoocomplicatedtobeentrustedtoacynicalorshamelesshope。Therewasnothingtotrustto。AtthismomentofhismeditationhebecameawareofLingard’sapproach。Heraisedhisheadeagerly。
　　D’AlcacerwasnotindifferenttohisfateandeventoMr。
　　Travers’fate。Hewouldfainlearn……ButonelookatLingard’sfacewasenough。"It’snouseaskinghimanything，"hesaidtohimself，"forhecaresfornothingjustnow。"
　　Lingardsatdownheavilyontheotherendofthebench，andd’Alcacer，lookingathisprofile，confessedtohimselfthatthiswasthemostmasculinelygood—lookingfacehehadeverseeninhislife。Itwasanexpressiveface，too，butitspresentexpressionwasalsobeyondd’Alcacer’spastexperience。Atthesametimeitsquietnesssetupabarrieragainstcommoncuriositiesandevencommonfears。No，itwasnouseaskinghimanything。Yetsomethingshouldbesaidtobreakthespell，tocalldownagainthismantotheearth。ButitwasLingardwhospokefirst。"WherehasMrs。Traversgone？"
　　"Shehasgone……wherenaturallyshewouldbeanxioustogofirstofallsinceshehasmanagedtocometous，"answeredd’Alcacer，wordinghisanswerwiththeutmostregardforthedelicacyofthesituation。
　　ThestillnessofLingardseemedtohavegrownevenmoreimpressive。Hespokeagain。
　　"Iwonderwhatthosetwocanhavetosaytoeachother。"
　　Hemighthavebeenaskingthatofthewholedarkenedpartoftheglobe，butitwasd’Alcacerwhoansweredinhiscourteoustones。
　　"Woulditsurpriseyouverymuch，CaptainLingard，ifIweretotellyouthatthosetwopeoplearequitefittounderstandeachotherthoroughly？Yes？Itsurprisesyou！Well，Iassureyouthatseventhousandmilesfromherenobodywouldwonder。"
　　"IthinkIunderstand，"saidLingard，"butdon’tyouknowthemanislight—headed？Amanlikethatisasgoodasmad。"
　　"Yes，hehadbeenslightlydelirioussinceseveno’clock，"saidd’Alcacer。"Butbelieveme，CaptainLingard，"hecontinued，earnestly，andobeyingaperfectlydisinterestedimpulse，"thateveninhisdeliriumheisfarmoreunderstandabletoherandbetterabletounderstandherthan……anybodywithinahundredmilesfromhere。"
　　"Ah！"saidLingardwithoutanyemotion，"soyoudon’twonder。Youdon’tseeanyreasonforwonder。"
　　"No，for，don’tyousee，Idoknow。"
　　"Whatdoyouknow？"
　　"Menandwomen，CaptainLingard，whichyou……"
　　"Idon’tknowanywoman。"
　　"Youhavespokenthestrictesttruththere，"saidd’Alcacer，andforthefirsttimeLingardturnedhisheadslowlyandlookedathisneighbouronthebench。
　　"Doyouthinksheisasgoodasmad，too？"askedLingardinastartledvoice。
　　D’Alcacerletescapealowexclamation。No，certainlyhedidnotthinkso。Itwasanoriginalnotiontosupposethatlunaticshadasortofcommonlogicwhichmadethemunderstandabletoeachother。D’Alcacertriedtomakehisvoiceasgentleaspossiblewhilehepursued："No，CaptainLingard，Ibelievethewomanofwhomwespeakisandwillalwaysremaininthefullestpossessionofherself。"