"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。