\"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。
