\"Itoldhimthattherewereprobablycardsonboardsomewhere——Jorgensonwouldknow。ThenIaskedhimwhetherhelookedonmeasagaoler。Hewasquitestartledandsorryforwhathesaid。\"
\"Itwasn’tverykindofyou，CaptainLingard。\"
\"Itslippedoutawkwardlyandwemadeitupwithalaugh。\"
Mrs。Traversleanedherelbowsontherailandputherheadintoherhands。EveryattitudeofthatwomansurprisedLingardbyitsenchantingeffectuponhimself。Hesighed，andthesilencelastedforalongwhile。
\"IwishIhadunderstoodeverywordthatwassaidthatmorning。\"
\"Thatmorning，\"repeatedLingard。\"Whatmorningdoyoumean？\"
\"ImeanthemorningwhenIwalkedoutofBelarab’sstockadeonyourarm，CaptainLingard，attheheadoftheprocession。ItseemedtomethatIwaswalkingonasplendidstageinascenefromanopera，inagorgeousshowfittomakeanaudienceholditsbreath。Youcan’tpossiblyguesshowunrealallthisseemed，andhowartificialIfeltmyself。Anopera，youknow……\"
\"Iknow。Iwasagolddiggeratonetime。SomeofususedtocomedowntoMelbournewithourpocketsfullofmoney。Idaresayitwaspoorenoughtowhatyoumusthaveseen，butonceIwenttoashowlikethat。Itwasastoryactedtomusic。Allthepeoplewentsingingthroughitrighttotheveryend。\"
\"Howitmusthavejarredonyoursenseofreality，\"saidMrs。
Travers，stillnotlookingathim。\"Youdon’trememberthenameoftheopera？\"
\"No。Inevertroubledmyheadaboutit。We——ourlotneverdid。\"
\"Iwon’taskyouwhatthestorywaslike。Itmusthaveappearedtoyouliketheverydefianceofalltruth。Wouldrealpeoplegosingingthroughtheirlifeanywhereexceptinafairytale？\"
\"Thesepeopledidn’talwayssingforjoy，\"saidLingard，simply。
\"Idon’tknowmuchaboutfairytales。\"
\"Theyaremostlyaboutprincesses，\"murmuredMrs。Travers。
Lingarddidn’tquitehear。Hebenthisearforamomentbutshewasn’tlookingathimandhedidn’taskhertorepeatherremark。
\"Fairytalesareforchildren，Ibelieve，\"hesaid。\"ButthatstorywithmusicIamtellingyouof，Mrs。Travers，wasnotataleforchildren。IassureyouthatofthefewshowsIhaveseenthatonewasthemostrealtome。Morerealthananythinginlife。\"
Mrs。Travers，rememberingthefatalinanityofmostoperalibrettos，wastouchedbythesewordsasiftherehadbeensomethingpatheticinthisreadinessofresponse；asifshehadheardastarvedmantalkingofthedelightofacrustofdrybread。\"Isupposeyouforgotyourselfinthatstory，whateveritwas，\"sheremarkedinadetachedtone。
\"Yes，itcarriedmeaway。ButIsupposeyouknowthefeeling。\"
\"No。Ineverknewanythingofthekind，notevenwhenIwasachitofagirl。\"Lingardseemedtoacceptthisstatementasanassertionofsuperiority。Heinclinedhisheadslightly。
Moreover，shemighthavesaidwhatsheliked。Whatpleasedhimmostwashernotlookingathim；foritenabledhimtocontemplatewithperfectfreedomthecurveofhercheek，hersmallearhalfhiddenbytheclearmeshoffinehair，thefascinationofheruncoveredneck。Andherwholepersonwasanimpossible，anamazingandsolidmarvelwhichsomehowwasnotsomuchconvincingtotheeyeastosomethingwithinhimthatwasapparentlyindependentofhissenses。Notevenforamomentdidhethinkofherasremote。Untouchable——possibly！Butremote——no。
Whetherconsciouslyorunconsciouslyhetookherspirituallyforgranted。Itwasmateriallythatshewasawonderofthesortthatisatthesametimefamiliarandsacred。
\"No，\"Mrs。Traversbeganagain，abruptly。\"Ineverforgotmyselfinastory。Itwasnotinme。Ihavenotevenbeenabletoforgetmyselfonthatmorningonshorewhichwaspartofmyownstory。\"
\"Youcarriedyourselffirstrate，\"saidLingard，smilingatthenapeofherneck，herear，thefilmofescapedhair，themodellingofthecornerofhereye。Hecouldseetheflutterofthedarkeyelashes：andthedelicateflushonhercheekhadrathertheeffectofscentthanofcolour。
\"Youapprovedofmybehaviour。\"
\"Justright，Itellyou。Myword，weren’ttheyallstruckofaheapwhentheymadeoutwhatyouwere。\"
\"Ioughttofeelflattered。IwillconfesstoyouthatIfeltonlyhalfdisguisedandwashalfangryandwhollyuncomfortable。
Whathelpedme，Isuppose，wasthatIwantedtoplease……\"
\"Idon’tmeantosaythattheywereexactlypleased，\"brokeinLingard，conscientiously。\"Theywerestartledmore。\"
\"Iwantedtopleaseyou，\"droppedMrs。Travers，negligently。A
faint，hoarse，andimpatientcallofabirdwasheardfromthewoodsasifcallingtotheoncomingnight。Lingard’sfacegrewhotinthedeepeningdusk。Thedelicatelemonyellowandetherealgreentintshadvanishedfromtheskyandtheredglowdarkenedmenacingly。Thesunhadsetbehindtheblackpalloftheforest，nolongeredgedwithalineofgold。
Yes，Iwasabsurdlyself—conscious，\"continuedMrs。Traversinaconversationaltone。\"AnditwastheeffectoftheseclothesthatyoumademeputonoversomeofmyEuropean——Ialmostsaiddisguise；becauseyouknowinthepresentmoreperfectcostumeI
feelcuriouslyathome；andyetIcan’tsaythatthesethingsreallyfitme。Thesleevesofthissilkunder—jacketarerathertight。Myshouldersfeelbound，too，andastothesarongitisscandalouslyshort。Accordingtoruleitshouldhavebeenlongenoughtofallovermyfeet。ButIlikefreedomofmovement。I
havehadverylittleofwhatIlikedinlife。\"
\"Icanhardlybelievethat，\"saidLingard。\"Ifitwasn’tforyoursayingso……\"
\"Iwouldn’tsaysotoeverybody，\"shesaid，turningherheadforamomenttoLingardandturningitawayagaintotheduskwhichseemedtocomefloatingovertheblacklagoon。Farawayinitsdepthacoupleoffeeblelightstwinkled；itwasimpossibletosaywhetherontheshoreorontheedgeofthemoredistantforest。Overheadthestarswerebeginningtocomeout，butfaintyet，asiftooremotetobereflectedinthelagoon。Onlytothewestasettingplanetshonethroughtheredfogofthesunsetglow。\"Itwassupposednottobegoodformetohavemuchfreedomofaction。SoatleastIwastold。ButIhaveasuspicionthatitwasonlyunpleasingtootherpeople。\"
\"Ishouldhavethought，\"beganLingard，thenhesitatedandstopped。Itseemedtohiminconceivablethateverybodyshouldnothavelovedtomakethatwomanhappy。Andhewasimpressedbythebitternessofhertone。Mrs。Traversdidnotseemcurioustoknowwhathewantedtosayandafteratimesheadded，\"Idon’tmeanonlywhenIwasachild。Idon’trememberthatverywell。I
daresayIwasveryobjectionableasachild。\"
Lingardtriedtoimagineherasachild。Theideawasnoveltohim。Herperfectionseemedtohavecomeintotheworldcomplete，mature，andwithoutanyhesitationorweakness。Hehadnothinginhisexperiencethatcouldhelphimtoimagineachildofthatclass。Thechildrenheknewplayedaboutthevillagestreetandranonthebeach。Hehadbeenoneofthem。Hehadseenotherchildren，ofcourse，since，buthehadnotbeenintouchwiththemexceptvisuallyandtheyhadnotbeenEnglishchildren。Herchildhood，likehisown，hadbeenpassedinEngland，andthatveryfactmadeitalmostimpossibleforhimtoimagineit。Hecouldnoteventellwhetheritwasintownorinthecountry，orwhetherasachildshehadevenseenthesea。Andhowcouldachildofthatkindbeobjectionable？Butherememberedthatachilddisapprovedofcouldbeveryunhappy，andhesaid：
\"Iamsorry。\"
Mrs。Traverslaughedalittle。Withinthemuslincageformshadturnedtoblurredshadows。Amongstthemtheformofd’Alcaceraroseandmoved。ThesystematicorelsethemorbiddumbnessofMr。Traversboredandexasperatedhim，though，asamatteroffact，thatgentleman’sspeecheshadneverhadthepowereithertoentertainortosoothehismind。
\"It’sveryniceofyou。Youhaveagreatcapacityforsympathy，butafterallIamnotcertainonwhichsideyoursympathieslie。
Withme，orthosemuch—triedpeople，\"saidMrs。Travers。
\"Withthechild，\"saidLingard，disregardingthebanteringtone。
\"Achildcanhaveaverybadtimeofitalltoitself。\"
\"Whatcanyouknowofit？\"sheasked。
\"Ihavemyownfeelings，\"heansweredinsomesurprise。
Mrs。Travers，withherbacktohim，wascoveredwithconfusion。
Neithercouldshedepicttoherselfhischildhoodasifhe，too，hadcomeintotheworldinthefullnessofhisstrengthandhispurpose。Shediscoveredacertainnaivenessinherselfandlaughedalittle。Hemadenosound。
\"Don’tbeangry，\"shesaid。\"Iwouldn’tdreamoflaughingatyourfeelings。Indeedyourfeelingsarethemostseriousthingthatevercameinmyway。Icouldn’thelplaughingatmyself——atafunnydiscoveryImade。\"
\"Inthedaysofyourchildhood？\"sheheardLingard’sdeepvoiceaskingafterapause。
\"Oh，no。Agesafterward。Nochildcouldhavemadethatdiscovery。
Doyouknowthegreatestdifferencethereisbetweenus？Itisthis：ThatIhavebeenlivingsincemychildhoodinfrontofashowandthatIneverhavebeentakeninforamomentbyitstinselanditsnoiseorbyanythingthatwentononthestage。DoyouunderstandwhatImean，CaptainLingard？\"
Therewasamomentofsilence。\"Whatdoesitmatter？Wearenochildrennow。\"TherewasaninfinitegentlenessinLingard’sdeeptones。\"Butifyouhavebeenunhappythendon’ttellmethatithasnotbeenmadeuptoyousince。Surelyyouhaveonlytomakeasign。Awomanlikeyou。\"
\"YouthinkIcouldfrightenthewholeworldontoitsknees？\"
\"No，notfrighten。\"Thesuggestionofalaughinthedeadenedvoicepassedoffinacatchofthebreath。Thenhewasheardbeginningsoberly：\"Yourhusband……\"Hehesitatedalittleandshetooktheopportunitytosaycoldly：
\"HisnameisMr。Travers。\"
Lingarddidn’tknowhowtotakeit。Heimaginedhimselftohavebeenguiltyofsomesortofpresumption。Buthowonearthwashetocalltheman？Afterallhewasherhusband。Thatideawasdisagreeabletohimbecausethemanwasalsoinimicalinaparticularlyunreasonableandgallingmanner。Atthesametimehewasawarethathedidn’tcareabitforhisenmityandhadanideathathewouldnothavecaredforhisfriendshipeither。Andsuddenlyhefeltverymuchannoyed。
\"Yes。That’sthemanImean，\"hesaidinacontemptuoustone。\"I
don’tparticularlylikethenameandIamsureIdon’twanttotalkabouthimmorethanIcanhelp。Ifhehadn’tbeenyourhusbandIwouldn’thaveputupwithhismannersforanhour。Doyouknowwhatwouldhavehappenedtohimifhehadn’tbeenyourhusband？\"
\"No，\"saidMrs。Travers。\"Doyou，CaptainLingard？\"
\"Notexactly，\"headmitted。\"Somethinghewouldn’thaveliked，youmaybesure。\"
\"Whileofcoursehelikesthisverymuch，\"sheobserved。Lingardgaveanabruptlaugh。
\"Idon’tthinkit’sinmypowertodoanythingthathewouldlike，\"hesaidinaserioustone。\"Forgivememyfrankness，Mrs。
Travers，buthemakesitverydifficultsometimesformetokeepcivil。WhateverIhavehadtoputupwithinlifeIhaveneverhadtoputupwithcontempt。\"
\"Iquitebelievethat，\"saidMrs。Travers。\"Don’tyourfriendscallyouKingTom？\"
\"NobodythatIcarefor。Ihavenofriends。Oh，yes，theycallmethat……\"
\"Youhavenofriends？\"
\"NotI，\"hesaidwithdecision。\"Amanlikemehasnochums。\"
\"It’squitepossible，\"murmuredMrs。Traverstoherself。
\"No，notevenJorgenson。OldcrazyJorgenson。HecallsmeKingTom，too。Youseewhatthat’sworth。\"
\"Yes，Isee。OrratherIhaveheard。Thatpoormanhasnotone，andsomuchdependsonthat。NowsupposeIweretocallyouKingTomnowandthenbetweenourselves，\"Mrs。Travers’voiceproposed，distantlytentativeinthenightthatinvestedherpersonwithacolourlessvaguenessofform。
Shewaitedinthestillness，herelbowsontherailandherfaceinherhandsasifshehadalreadyforgottenwhatshehadsaid。
Sheheardatherelbowthedeepmurmurof：
\"Let’shearyousayit。\"
Shenevermovedtheleastbit。Thesombrelagoonsparkledfaintlywiththereflectionofthestars。
\"Oh，yes，Iwillletyouhearit，\"shesaidintothestarlitspaceinavoiceofunaccentedgentlenesswhichchangedsubtlyasshewenton。\"Ihopeyouwillneverregretthatyoucameoutofyourfriendlessmysterytospeaktome，KingTom。Howmanydaysagoitwas！Andhereisanotherdaygone。Tellmehowmanymoreofthemtheremustbe？Oftheseblindingdaysandnightswithoutasound。\"
\"Bepatient，\"hemurmured。\"Don’taskmefortheimpossible。\"
\"HowdoyouorIknowwhatispossible？\"shewhisperedwithastrangescorn。\"Youwouldn’tdareguess。ButItellyouthateverydaythatpassesismoreimpossibletomethanthedaybefore。\"
Thepassionofthatwhisperwentlikeastabintohisbreast。
\"WhatamItotellyou？\"hemurmured，asifwithdespair。
\"Rememberthateverysunsetmakesitadayless。DoyouthinkI
wantyouhere？\"
Abitterlittlelaughfloatedoutintothestarlight。Mrs。
TraversheardLingardmovesuddenlyawayfromherside。Shedidn’tchangeherposebyahair’sbreadth。Presentlysheheardd’AlcacercomingoutoftheCage。Hiscultivatedvoiceaskedhalfplayfully：
\"Haveyouhadasatisfactoryconversation？MayIbetoldsomethingofit？\"
\"Mr。d’Alcacer，youarecurious。\"
\"Well，inourposition，Iconfess……Youareouronlyrefuge，remember。\"
\"Youwanttoknowwhatweweretalkingabout，\"saidMrs。Travers，alteringslowlyherpositionsoastoconfrontd’Alcacerwhosefacewasalmostundistinguishable。\"Oh，well，then，wetalkedaboutopera，therealitiesandillusionsofthestage，ofdresses，ofpeople’snames，andthingsofthatsort。\"
\"Nothingofimportance，\"hesaidcourteously。Mrs。Traversmovedforwardandhesteppedtooneside。InsidetheCagetwoMalayhandswerehangingroundlanterns，thelightofwhichfellonMr。
Travers’bowedheadashesatinhischair。
WhentheywereallassembledfortheeveningmealJorgensonstrolledupfromnowhereinparticularashishabitwas，andspeakingthroughthemuslinannouncedthatCaptainLingardbeggedtobeexcusedfromjoiningthecompanythatevening。Thenhestrolledaway。Fromthatmomenttilltheygotupfromthetableandthecampbedsteadswerebroughtinnottwentywordspassedbetweenthemembersofthepartywithinthenet。Thestrangenessoftheirsituationmadeallattemptstoexchangeideasveryarduous；andapartfromthateachhadthoughtswhichitwasdistinctlyuselesstocommunicatetotheothers。Mr。Travershadabandonedhimselftohissenseofinjury。Hedidnotsomuchbroodasrageinwardlyinadull，dispiritedway。Theimpossibilityofassertinghimselfinanymannergalledhisverysoul。D’Alcacerwasextremelypuzzled。DetachedinasensefromthelifeofmenperhapsasmuchevenasJorgensonhimself，hetookyetareasonableinterestinthecourseofeventsandhadnotlostallhissenseofself—preservation。Withoutbeingabletoappreciatetheexactvaluesofthesituationhewasnotoneofthosemenwhoareevercompletelyinthedarkinanygivensetofcircumstances。Withoutbeinghumoroushewasagood—humouredman。
Hishabitual，gentlesmilewasatrueexpression。MoreofaEuropeanthanofaSpaniardhehadthattrulyaristocraticnaturewhichisinclinedtocrediteveryhonestmanwithsomethingofitsownnobilityandinitsjudgmentisaltogetherindependentofclassfeeling。HebelievedLingardtobeanhonestmanandhenevertroubledhisheadtoclassifyhim，exceptinthesensethathefoundhimaninterestingcharacter。Hehadasortofesteemfortheoutwardpersonalityandthebearingofthatseaman。Hefoundinhimalsothedistinctionofbeingnothingofatype。Hewasaspecimentobejudgedonlybyitsownworth。Withhisnaturalgiftofinsightd’Alcacertoldhimselfthatmanyoverseasadventurersofhistorywereprobablylessworthybecauseobviouslytheymusthavebeenlesssimple。Hedidn’t，however，impartthosethoughtsformallytoMrs。Travers。InfactheavoideddiscussingLingardwithMrs。Traverswho，hethought，wasquiteintelligentenoughtoappreciatetheexactshadeofhisattitude。Ifthatshadewasfine，Mrs。Traverswasfine，too；andtherewasnoneedtodiscussthecoloursofthisadventure。
Moreover，sheherselfseemedtoavoidalldirectdiscussionoftheLingardelementintheirfate。D’Alcacerwasfineenoughtobeawarethatthosetwoseemedtounderstandeachotherinawaythatwasnotobviouseventothemselves。Wheneverhesawthemtogetherhewasalwaysmuchtemptedtoobservethem。Andheyieldedtothetemptation。Thefactofone’slifedependingonthephasesofanobscureactionauthorizesacertainlatitudeofbehaviour。Hehadseenthemtogetherrepeatedly，communingopenlyorapart，andtherewasintheirwayofjoiningeachother，intheirposesandtheirwaysofseparating，somethingspecialandcharacteristicandpertainingtothemselvesonly，asiftheyhadbeenmadeforeachother。
Whathecouldn’tunderstandwaswhyMrs。TraversshouldhaveputoffhisnaturalcuriosityastoherlatestconferencewiththeManofFatebyanincrediblestatementastothenatureoftheconversation。Talkaboutdresses，opera，people’snames。Hecouldn’ttakethisseriously。Shemighthaveinvented，hethought，somethingmoreplausible；orsimplyhavetoldhimthatthiswasnotforhimtoknow。Sheoughttohaveknownthathewouldnothavebeenoffended。Couldn’tshehaveseenalreadythatheacceptedthecomplexionofmysteryinherrelationtothatmancompletely，unquestionably；asthoughithadbeensomethingpreordainedfromtheverybeginningofthings？ButhewasnotannoyedwithMrs。Travers。Afterallitmighthavebeentrue。Shewouldtalkexactlyassheliked，andevenincredibly，ifitsopleasedher，andmakethemanhangonherlips。Andlikewiseshewascapableofmakingthemantalkaboutanythingbyapowerofinspirationforreasonssimpleorperverse。Opera！Dresses！
Yes——aboutShakespeareandthemusicalglasses！Foramerewhimorforthedeepestpurpose。Womenworthyofthenamewerelikethat。Theywereverywonderful。Theyrosetotheoccasionandsometimesabovetheoccasionwhenthingswereboundtooccurthatwouldbecomicortragic（asithappened）butgenerallychargedwithtroubleeventoinnocentbeholders。D’Alcacerthoughtthesethoughtswithoutbitternessandevenwithoutirony。Withhishalf—secretsocialreputationasamanofonegreatpassioninaworldofmereintrigueshelikedallwomen。Helikedthemintheirsentimentandintheirhardness，inthetragiccharacteroftheirfoolishorcleverimpulses，atwhichhelookedwithasortoftenderseriousness。
Hedidn’ttakeafavourableviewofthepositionbutheconsideredMrs。Travers’statementaboutoperasanddressesasawarningtokeepoffthesubject。Forthisreasonheremainedsilentthroughthemeal。
WhenthebustleofclearingawaythetablewasoverhestrolledtowardMrs。Traversandremarkedveryquietly：
\"IthinkthatinkeepingawayfromusthiseveningtheManofFatewaswellinspired。WedinedlikealotofCarthusianmonks。\"
\"Youalludetooursilence？\"
\"Itwasmostscrupulous。Ifwehadtakenaneternalvowwecouldn’thavekeptitbetter。\"
\"Didyoufeelbored？\"
\"Pasdutout，\"d’Alcacerassuredherwithwhimsicalgravity。\"I
feltnothing。Isatinastateofblessedvacuity。IbelieveI
wasthehappiestofusthree。Unlessyou，too，Mrs。Travers……\"
\"It’sabsolutelynouseyourfishingformythoughts，Mr。
d’Alcacer。IfIweretoletyouseethemyouwouldbeappalled。\"
\"Thoughtsreallyarebutashapeoffeelings。Letmecongratulateyouontheimpassivemaskyoucanputonthosehorrorsyousayyounurseinyourbreast。Itwasimpossibletotellanythingbyyourface。\"
\"Youwillalwayssayflatteringthings。\"
\"Madame，myflatteriescomefromtheverybottomofmyheart。I
havegivenuplongagoalldesiretoplease。AndIwasnottryingtogetatyourthoughts。Whateverelseyoumayexpectfrommeyoumaycountonmyabsoluterespectforyourprivacy。ButIsupposewithamasksuchasyoucanmakeforyourselfyoureallydon’tcare。TheManofFate，Inoticed，isnotnearlyasgoodatitasyouare。\"
\"Whatapretentiousname。Doyoucallhimbyittohisface，Mr。
d’Alcacer？\"
\"No，Ihaven’tthecheek，\"confessedd’Alcacer，equably。\"And，besides，it’stoomomentousfordailyuse。Andheissosimplethathemightmistakeitforajokeandnothingcouldbefurtherfrommythoughts。Mrs。Travers，IwillconfesstoyouthatI
don’tfeeljocularintheleast。Butwhatcanheknowaboutpeopleofoursort？AndwhenIreflecthowlittlepeopleofoursortcanknowofsuchamanIamquitecontenttoaddresshimasCaptainLingard。It’scommonandsoothingandmostrespectableandsatisfactory；forCaptainisthemostemptyofalltitles。
WhatisaCaptain？AnybodycanbeaCaptain；andforLingardit’sanamelikeanyother。Whereaswhathedeservesissomethingspecial，significant，andexpressive，thatwouldmatchhisperson，hissimpleandromanticperson。\"
HeperceivedthatMrs。Traverswaslookingathimintently。Theyhastenedtoturntheireyesawayfromeachother。
\"Hewouldlikeyourappreciation，\"Mrs。Traversletdropnegligently。
\"Iamafraidhewoulddespiseit。\"
\"Despiseit！Why，thatsortofthingistheverybreathofhisnostrils。\"
\"Youseemtounderstandhim，Mrs。Travers。Womenhaveasingularcapacityforunderstanding。Imeansubjectsthatinterestthem；
becausewhentheirimaginationisstimulatedtheyarenotafraidoflettingitgo。Amanismoremistrustfulofhimself，butwomenarebornmuchmorereckless。Theypushonandonundertheprotectionofsecrecyandsilence，andthegreatertheobscurityofwhattheywishtoexplorethegreatertheircourage。\"
\"Doyoumeanseriouslytotellmethatyouconsidermeacreatureofdarkness？\"
\"Ispokeingeneral，\"remonstratedd’Alcacer。\"Anythingelsewouldhavebeenanimpertinence。Yes，obscurityiswomen’sbestfriend。Theirdaringlovesit；butasuddenflashoflightdisconcertsthem。Generallyspeaking，iftheydon’tgetexactlyatthetruththeyalwaysmanagetocomeprettyneartoit。\"
Mrs。Travershadlistenedwithsilentattentionandsheallowedthesilencetocontinueforsometimeafterd’Alcacerhadceased。
Whenshespokeitwastosayinanunconcernedtonethatastothissubjectshehadhadspecialopportunities。Herself—possessedinterlocutormanagedtorepressamovementofrealcuriosityunderanassumptionofconventionalinterest。\"Indeed，\"
heexclaimed，politely。\"Aspecialopportunity。Howdidyoumanagetocreateit？\"
ThiswastoomuchforMrs。Travers。\"I！Createit！\"sheexclaimed，indignantly，butunderherbreath。\"HowonearthdoyouthinkIcouldhavedoneit？\"
Mr。d’Alcacer，asifcommuningwithhimself，washeardtomurmurunrepentantlythatindeedwomenseldomknewhowtheyhad\"doneit，\"towhichMrs。Traversinawearytonereturnedtheremarkthatnotwomenweredenseinthesameway。TothisMr。d’Alcacerassentedwithoutdifficulty。\"Yes，ourbrandpresentsmorevarieties。This，fromacertainpointofview，isobviouslytoouradvantage。Weinterest……NotthatIimaginemyselfinterestingtoyou，Mrs。Travers。ButwhatabouttheManofFate？\"
\"Oh，yes，\"breathedoutMrs。Travers。
\"Isee！Immensely！\"saidd’Alcacerinatoneofmysteriousunderstanding。\"Washisstupiditysocolossal？\"
\"Itwasindistinguishablefromgreatvisionsthatwereinnosensemeanandmadeupforhimaworldofhisown。\"
\"Iguessedthatmuch，\"mutteredd’Alcacertohimself。\"Butthat，youknow，Mrs。Travers，thatisn’tgoodnewsatalltome。Worldofdreams，eh？That’sverybad，verydangerous。It’salmostfatal，Mrs。Travers。\"
\"Whyallthisdismay？Whydoyouobjecttoaworldofdreams？\"
\"BecauseIdisliketheprospectofbeingmadeasacrificeofbythoseMoors。Iamnotanoptimistlikeourfriendthere，\"hecontinuedinalowtonenoddingtowardthedismalfigureofMr。
Travershuddledupinthechair。\"Idon’tregardallthisasafarceandIhavediscoveredinmyselfastrongobjectiontohavingmythroatcutbythosegorgeousbarbariansafteralotoffatuoustalk。Don’taskmewhy，Mrs。Travers。Putitdowntoanabsurdweakness。\"
Mrs。Traversmadeaslightmovementinherchair，raisingherhandstoherhead，andinthedimlightofthelanternsd’Alcacersawthemassofhercleargleaminghairfalldownandspreaditselfoverhershoulders。Sheseizedhalfofitinherhandswhichlookedverywhite，andwithherheadinclinedalittleononesideshebegantomakeaplait。
\"Youareterrifying，\"hesaidafterwatchingthemovementofherfingersforawhile。
