V
TheverydaythatTraversandd’AlcacerhadcomeonboardtheEmmaHassimandImmadahaddepartedontheirmission；forLingard，ofcourse，couldnotthinkofleavingthewhitepeoplealonewithJorgenson。Jorgensonwasallright，buthisineradicablehabitofmutteringinhismoustacheabout\"throwingalightedmatchamongstthepowderbarrels\"hadinspiredLingardwithacertainamountofmistrust。And，moreover，hedidnotwanttogoawayfromMrs。Travers。
ItwastheonlycorrectinspirationonCarter’sparttosendJaffirwithhisreporttoLingard。Thatstout—heartedfighter，swimmer，anddevotedfolloweroftheprincelymisfortunesofHassimandImmada，hadlookeduponhismissiontocatchthechiefofficeroftheyacht（whichhehadreceivedfromLingardinCarimata）asatriflingjob。IttookhimalittlelongerthanheexpectedbuthehadgotbacktothebrigjustintimetobesentontoLingardwithCarter’sletterafteracoupleofhours’rest。
HehadthestoryofallthehappeningsfromWasubbeforeheleftandthoughhisfacepreserveditsgraveimpassivity，inhishearthedidnotlikeitatall。
Fearlessandwily，Jaffirwasthemanfordifficultmissionsandabornmessenger——asheexpressedithimself——\"tobearweightywordsbetweengreatmen。\"Withhisunfailingmemoryhewasabletoreproducethemexactly，whethersoftorhard，incouncilorinprivate；forheknewnofear。Withhimtherewasnoneedforwritingwhichmightfallintothehandsoftheenemy。Ifhediedonthewaythemessagewoulddiewithhim。Hehadalsothegiftofgettingatthesenseofanysituationandanobservanteye。Hewasdistinctlyoneofthosemenfromwhomtrustworthyinformationcanbeobtainedbytheleadersofgreatenterprises。Lingarddidputseveralquestionstohim，butinthisinstance，ofcourse，Jaffircouldhaveonlyverylittletosay。OfCarter，whomhecalledthe\"youngone，\"hesaidthathelookedaswhitemenlookwhentheyarepleasedwiththemselves；thenaddedwithoutwaitingforadefinitequestion——\"Theshipsouttherearenowsafeenough，O，RajahLaut！\"Therewasnoelationinhistone。
Lingardlookedathimblankly。WhentheGreatestofWhiteMenremarkedthattherewasyetapricetobepaidforthatsafety，Jaffirassentedbya\"Yes，byAllah！\"withoutlosingforamomenthisgrimcomposure。WhentoldthathewouldberequiredtogoandfindhismasterandtheladyImmadawhoweresomewhereinthebackcountry，inBelarab’stravellingcamp，hedeclaredhimselfreadytoproceedatonce。Hehadeatenhisfillandhadsleptthreehoursonboardthebrigandhewasnottired。Whenhewasyoungheusedtogettiredsometimes；butformanyyearsnowhehadknownnosuchweakness。Hedidnotrequiretheboatwithpaddlersinwhichhehadcomeupintothelagoon。Hewouldgoaloneinasmallcanoe。Thiswasnotime，heremarked，forpublicityandostentation。Hispent—upanxietyburstthroughhislips。\"Itisinmymind，Tuan，thatdeathhasnotbeensonearthemsincethatnightwhenyoucamesailinginablackcloudandtookusalloutofthestockade。\"
LingardsaidnothingbuttherewasinJaffirafaithinthatwhitemanwhichwasnoteasilyshaken。
\"Howareyougoingtosavethemthistime，ORajahLaut？\"heasked，simply。
\"Belarabismyfriend，\"murmuredLingard。
InhisanxietyJaffirwasveryoutspoken。\"Amanofpeace！\"heexclaimedinalowtone。\"Whocouldbesafewithamanlikethat？\"heasked，contemptuously。
\"Thereisnowar，\"saidLingard\"Thereissuspicion，dread，andrevenge，andtheangerofarmedmen，\"retortedJaffir。\"Youhavetakenthewhiteprisonersoutoftheirhandsbytheforceofyourwordsalone。Isthatso，Tuan？\"
\"Yes，\"saidLingard。
\"Andyouhavethemonboardhere？\"askedJaffir，withaglanceoverhisshoulderatthewhiteandmistystructurewithinwhichbythelightofasmalloilflamed’AlcacerandMrs。Traverswerejustthenconversing。
\"Yes，Ihavethemhere。\"
\"Then，RajahLaut，\"whisperedJaffir，\"youcanmakeallsafebygivingthemback。\"
\"CanIdothat？\"werethewordsbreathedoutthroughLingard’slipstothefaithfulfollowerofHassimandImmada。
\"Canyoudoanythingelse？\"wasthewhisperedretortofJaffirthemessengeraccustomedtospeakfranklytothegreatoftheearth。\"Youareawhitemanandyoucanhaveonlyoneword。AndnowIgo。\"
Asmall，roughdug—outbelongingtotheEmmahadbeenbroughtroundtotheladder。Ashadowycalashhoveringrespectfullyinthedarknessofthedeckhadalreadyclearedhisthroattwiceinawarningmanner。
\"Yes，Jaffir，go，\"saidLingard，\"andbemyfriend。\"
\"Iamthefriendofagreatprince，\"saidtheother，sturdily。
\"Butyou，RajahLaut，wereevengreater。Andgreatyouwillremainwhileyouarewithus，peopleofthisseaandofthisland。Butwhatbecomesofthestrengthofyourarmsbeforeyourownwhitepeople？Wheredoesitgoto，Isay？Well，then，wemusttrustinthestrengthofyourheart。\"
\"Ihopethatwillneverfail，\"saidLingard，andJaffiremittedagruntofsatisfaction。\"ButGodaloneseesintomen’shearts。\"
\"Yes。OurrefugeiswithAllah，\"assentedJaffir，whohadacquiredthehabitofpiousturnsofspeechinthefrequentationofprofessedlyreligiousmen，ofwhomthereweremanyinBelarab’sstockade。Asamatteroffact，hereposedallhistrustinLingardwhohadwithhimtheprestigeofaprovidentialmansentatthehourofneedbyheavenitself。Hewaitedawhile，then：\"WhatisthemessageIamtotake？\"heasked。
\"TellthewholetaletotheRajahHassim，\"saidLingard。\"Andtellhimtomakehiswayherewiththeladyhissistersecretlyandwithspeed。Thetimeofgreattroublehascome。Letus，atleast，betogether。\"
\"Right！Right！\"Jaffirapproved，heartily。\"Todiealoneundertheweightofone’senemiesisadreadfulfate。\"
Hesteppedbackoutofthesheenofthelampbywhichtheyhadbeentalkingandmakinghiswaydownintothesmallcanoehetookupapaddleandwithoutasplashvanishedonthedarklagoon。
ItwasthenthatMrs。Traversandd’AlcacerheardLingardcallaloudforJorgenson。InstantlythefamiliarshadowstoodatLingard’selbowandlistenedindetachedsilence。Onlyattheendofthetaleitmarvelledaudibly：\"Here’samessforyouifyoulike。\"ButreallynothingintheworldcouldastonishorstartleoldJorgenson。Heturnedawaymutteringinhismoustache。LingardremainedwithhischininhishandandJaffir’slastwordstookgradualpossessionofhismind。ThenbrusquelyhepickedupthelampandwenttoseekMrs。Travers。Hewenttoseekherbecauseheactuallyneededherbodilypresence，thesoundofhervoice，thedark，clearglanceofhereyes。Shecoulddonothingforhim。
OnhiswayhebecameawarethatJorgensonhadturnedoutthefewMalaysonboardtheEmmaandwasdisposingthemaboutthedeckstowatchthelagooninalldirections。OncallingMrs。TraversoutoftheCageLingardwas，inthemidstofhismentalstruggle，consciousofacertainsatisfactionintakingherawayfromd’Alcacer。Hecouldn’tspareanyofherattentiontoanyotherman，nottheleastcrumbofhertime，nottheleastparticleofherthought！Heneededitall。Toseeitwithdrawnfromhimforthemerestinstantwasirritating——seemedadisaster。
D’Alcacer，leftalone，wonderedattheimperioustoneofLingard’scall。Tothisobserverofshadesthefactseemedconsiderable。\"Sheernerves，\"heconcluded，tohimself。\"Themanisoverstrung。Hemusthavehadsomesortofshock。\"Butwhatcoulditbe——hewonderedtohimself。Inthetensestagnationofthosedaysofwaitingtheslightesttremorhadanenormousimportance。D’Alcacerdidnotseekhiscampbedstead。Hedidn’tevensitdown。Withthepalmsofhishandsagainsttheedgeofthetableheleanedbackagainstit。InthatnegligentattitudehepreservedanalertmindwhichforamomentwonderedwhetherMrs。TravershadnotspoiledLingardalittle。Yetinthesuddennessoftheforcedassociation，where，too，d’Alcacerwassuretherewassomemoralprobleminthebackground，herecognizedtheextremedifficultyofweighingaccuratelytheimperiousdemandsagainstthenecessaryreservations，theexactproportionsofboldnessandcaution。Andd’AlcaceradmireduponthewholeMrs。Travers’cleverness。
Therecouldbenodoubtthatshehadthesituationinherhands。
That，ofcourse，didnotmeansafety。Shehaditinherhandsasonemayholdsomehighlyexplosiveanduncertaincompound。
D’Alcacerthoughtofherwithprofoundsympathyandwithaquiteunselfishinterest。Sometimesinastreetwecrossthepathofpersonalitiescompellingsympathyandwonderbutforallthatwedon’tfollowthemhome。D’AlcacerrefrainedfromfollowingMrs。
Traversanyfurther。HehadbecomesuddenlyawarethatMr。
Traverswassittinguponhiscampbedstead。Hemusthavedoneitverysuddenly。Onlyamomentbeforehehadappearedplungedinthedeepestslumber，andthestillnessforalongtimenowhadbeenperfectlyunbroken。D’AlcacerwasstartledenoughforanexclamationandMr。Traversturnedhisheadslowlyinhisdirection。D’Alcacerapproachedthebedsteadwithacertainreluctance。
\"Awake？\"hesaid。
\"Asuddenchill，\"saidMr。Travers。\"ButIdon’tfeelcoldnow。
Strange！Ihadtheimpressionofanicyblast。\"
\"Ah！\"saidd’Alcacer。
\"Impossible，ofcourse！\"wentonMr。Travers。\"Thisstagnatingairnevermoves。Itclingsodiouslytoone。Whattimeisit？\"
\"Really，Idon’tknow。\"
\"Theglassofmywatchwassmashedonthatnightwhenweweresotreacherouslyassailedbythesavagesonthesandbank，\"grumbledMr。Travers。
\"ImustsayIwasneversosurprisedinmylife，\"confessedd’Alcacer。\"WehadstoppedandIwaslightingacigar，youmayremember。\"
\"No，\"saidMr。Travers。\"Ihadjustthenpulledoutmywatch。Ofcourseitflewoutofmyhandbutithungbythechain。Somebodytrampledonit。Thehandsarebrokenoffshort。ItkeepsontickingbutIcan’ttellthetime。It’sabsurd。Mostprovoking。\"
\"Doyoumeantosay，\"askedd’Alcacer，\"thatyouhavebeenwindingitupeveryevening？\"
Mr。Traverslookedupfromhisbedsteadandhealsoseemedsurprised。\"Why！IsupposeIhave。\"Hekeptsilentforawhile。
\"Itisn’tsomuchblindhabitasyoumaythink。Myhabitsaretheoutcomeofstrictmethod。Ihadtoordermylifemethodically。
Youknowverywell，mydeard’Alcacer，thatwithoutstrictmethodIwouldnothavebeenabletogetthroughmyworkandwouldhavehadnotimeatallforsocialduties，which，ofcourse，areofverygreatimportance。Imaysaythat，materially，methodhasbeenthefoundationofmysuccessinpubliclife。Therewereneveranyemptymomentsinmyday。Andnowthis！……\"HelookedallroundtheCage……\"Where’smywife？\"heasked。
\"Iwastalkingtoheronlyamomentago，\"answeredd’Alcacer。\"I
don’tknowthetime。Mywatchisonboardtheyacht；butitisn’tlate，youknow。\"
Mr。Traversflungoffwithunwontedbrisknessthelightcottonsheetwhichcoveredhim。Hebuttonedhastilythetunicwhichhehadunfastenedbeforelyingdown，andjustasd’Alcacerwasexpectinghimtoswinghisfeettothedeckimpetuously，helaydownagainonthepillowandremainedperfectlystill。
D’AlcacerwaitedawhileandthenbegantopacetheCage。Afteracoupleofturnshestoppedandsaid，gently：
\"Iamafraid，Travers，youarenotverywell。\"
\"Idon’tknowwhatillnessis，\"answeredthevoicefromthepillowtothegreatreliefofd’Alcacerwhoreallyhadnotexpectedananswer。\"Goodhealthisagreatassetinpubliclife。
Illnessmaymakeyoumissauniqueopportunity。Iwasneverill。\"
Allthiscameoutdeadenedintone，asifthespeaker’sfacehadbeenburiedinthepillow。D’Alcacerresumedhispacing。
\"IthinkIaskedyouwheremywifewas，\"saidthemuffledvoice。
Withgreatpresenceofmindd’AlcacerkeptonpacingtheCageasifhehadnotheard。——\"Youknow，Ithinksheismad，\"wentonthemuffledvoice。\"UnlessIam。\"
Againd’Alcacermanagednottointerrupthisregularpacing。\"DoyouknowwhatIthink？\"hesaid，abruptly。\"Ithink，Travers，thatyoudon’twanttotalkabouther。Ithinkthatyoudon’twanttotalkaboutanything。AndtotellyouthetruthIdon’twantto，either。\"
D’Alcacercaughtafaintsighfromthepillowandatthesametimesawasmall，dimflameappearoutsidetheCage。Andstillhekeptonhispacing。Mrs。TraversandLingardcomingoutofthedeckhousestoppedjustoutsidethedoorandLingardstoodthedeck—lamponitsroof。Theyweretoofarfromd’Alcacertobeheard，buthecouldmakethemout：Mrs。Travers，asstraightasanarrow，andtheheavybulkofthemanwhofacedherwithaloweredhead。Hesawitinprofileagainstthelightandasifdeferentialinitsslightdroop。Theywerelookingstraightateachother。Neitherofthemmadetheslightestgesture。
\"Thereisthatinme，\"Lingardmurmured，deeply，\"whichwouldsetmyheartharderthanastone。IamKingTom，RajahLaut，andfittolookanymanhereaboutsintheface。Ihavemynametotakecareof。Everythingrestsonthat。\"
\"Mr。d’Alcacerwouldexpressthisbysayingthateverythingrestedonhonour，\"commentedMrs。Traverswithlipsthatdidnottremble，thoughfromtimetotimeshecouldfeeltheacceleratedbeatingofherheart。
\"Callitwhatyoulike。It’ssomethingthatamanneedstodrawafreebreath。Andlook！——asyouseemestandingbeforeyouhereI
careforitnolonger。\"
\"ButIdocareforit，\"retortedMrs。Travers。\"Asyouseemestandinghere——Idocare。Thisissomethingthatisyourveryown。Youhavearighttoit。AndIrepeatIdocareforit。\"
\"Careforsomethingofmyown，\"murmuredLingard，veryclosetoherface。\"Whyshouldyoucareformyrights？\"
\"Because，\"shesaid，holdinghergroundthoughtheirforeheadswerenearlytouching，\"becauseifIevergetbacktomylifeI
don’twanttomakeitmoreabsurdbyrealremorse。\"
HertonewassoftandLingardreceivedthebreathofthosewordslikeacaressonhisface。D’Alcacer，intheCage，madestillanotherefforttokeepuphispacing。Hedidn’twanttogiveMr。
Traverstheslightestexcuseforsittingupagainandlookinground。
\"ThatIshouldlivetohearanybodysaytheycaredanythingforwhatwasmine！\"whisperedLingard。\"Andthatitshouldbeyou——you，whohavetakenallhardnessoutofme。\"
\"Idon’twantyourhearttobemadehard。Iwantittobemadefirm。\"
\"Youcouldn’thavesaidanythingbetterthanwhatyouhavesaidjustnowtomakeitsteady，\"flowedthemurmurofLingard’svoicewithsomethingtenderinitsdepth。\"Hasanybodyeverhadafriendlikethis？\"heexclaimed，raisinghisheadasiftakingthestarrynighttowitness。
\"AndIaskmyselfisitpossiblethatthereshouldbeanothermanonearththatIcouldtrustasItrustyou。Isaytoyou：Yes！Goandsavewhatyouhavearighttoanddon’tforgettobemerciful。Iwillnotremindyouofourperfectinnocence。Theearthmustbesmallindeedthatweshouldhaveblunderedlikethisintoyourlife。It’senoughtomakeonebelieveinfatality。
ButIcan’tfinditinmetobehavelikeafatalist，tositdownwithfoldedhands。HadyoubeenanotherkindofmanImighthavebeentoohopelessortoodisdainful。DoyouknowwhatMr。
d’Alcacercallsyou？\"
InsidetheCaged’Alcacer，castingcuriousglancesintheirdirection，sawLingardshakehisheadandthoughtwithslightuneasiness：\"Heisrefusinghersomething。\"
\"Mr。d’Alcacer’snameforyouisthe’ManofFate’，\"saidMrs。
Travers，alittlebreathlessly。
\"Amouthful。Nevermind，heisagentleman。It’swhatyou……\"
\"IcallyouallbutbyyourChristianname，\"saidMrs。Travers，hastily。\"Believeme，Mr。d’Alcacerunderstandsyou。\"
\"Heisallright，\"interjectedLingard。
\"Andheisinnocent。Irememberwhatyouhavesaid——thattheinnocentmusttaketheirchance。Well，then，dowhatisright。\"
\"Youthinkitwouldberight？Youbelieveit？Youfeelit？\"
\"Atthistime，inthisplace，fromamanlikeyou——Yes，itisright。\"
Lingardthoughtthatwomanwonderfullytruetohimandwonderfullyfearlesswithherself。Thenecessitytotakebackthetwocaptivestothestockadewassoclearandunavoidablenow，thathebelievednothingonearthcouldhavestoppedhimfromdoingso，butwherewasthereanotherwomanintheworldwhowouldhavetakenitlikethis？Andhereflectedthatintruthandcouragethereisfoundwisdom。ItseemedtohimthattillMrs。
Traverscametostandbyhissidehehadneverknownwhattruthandcourageandwisdomwere。Withhiseyesonherfaceandhavingbeentoldthatinhereyesheappearedworthyofbeingbothcommandedandentreated，hefeltaninstantofcompletecontent，amomentof，asitwere，perfectemotionalrepose。
DuringthesilenceMrs。Traverswithaquicksideglancenoticedd’Alcacerasoneseesamaninamist，hismeredarkshapearrestedclosetothemuslinscreen。Shehadnodoubtthathewaslookingintheirdirectionandthathecouldseethemmuchmoreplainlythanshecouldseehim。Mrs。Traversthoughtsuddenlyhowanxioushemustbe；andsherememberedthathehadbeggedherforsomesign，forsomewarning，beforehand，atthemomentofcrisis。
Shehadunderstoodverywellhishintedrequestfortimetogetprepared。Ifhewastogetmorethanafewminutes，THISwasthemomenttomakehimasign——thesignhehadsuggestedhimself。
Mrs。Traversmovedbacktheleastbitsoastoletthelightfallinfrontofherandwithaslow，distinctmovementsheputherlefthandtoherforehead。
\"Well，then，\"sheheardLingard’sforciblemurmur，\"well，then，Mrs。Travers，itmustbedoneto—night。\"
Onemaybetrue，fearless，andwise，andyetcatchone’sbreathbeforethesimplefinalityofaction。Mrs。Traverscaughtherbreath：\"To—night！To—night！\"shewhispered。D’Alcacer’sdarkandmistysilhouettebecamemoreblurred。HehadseenhersignandhadretreateddeeperwithintheCage。
\"Yes，to—night，\"affirmedLingard。\"Now，atonce，withinthehour，thismoment，\"hemurmured，fiercely，followingMrs。Traversinherrecoilingmovement。Shefeltherarmbeingseizedswiftly。
\"Don’tyouseethatifitistodoanygood，thatiftheyarenottobedeliveredtomereslaughter，itmustbedonewhileallisdarkashore，beforeanarmedmobinboatscomesclamouringalongside？Yes。Beforethenightisanhourolder，sothatImaybehammeringatBelarab’sgatewhilealltheSettlementisstillasleep。\"
Mrs。Traversdidn’tdreamofprotesting。Forthemomentshewasunabletospeak。Thismanwasveryfierceandjustassuddenlyasithadbeengripped（makingherthinkincongruouslyinthemidstofheragitationthattherewouldbecertainlyabruisethereinthemorning）shefeltherarmreleasedandapenitentialtonecomeintoLingard’smurmuringvoice。
\"Andevennowit’snearlytoolate！Theroadwasplain，butIsawyouonitandmyheartfailedme。IwastherelikeanemptymanandIdarednotfaceyou。Youmustforgiveme。No，Ihadnorighttodoubtyouforamoment。IfeelasifIoughttogoonmykneesandbegyourpardonforforgettingwhatyouare，fordaringtoforget。\"
\"Why，KingTom，whatisit？\"
\"ItseemsasifIhadsinned，\"sheheardhimsay。Heseizedherbytheshoulders，turnedherabout，movedherforwardasteportwo。Hishandswereheavy，hisforceirresistible，thoughhehimselfimaginedhewashandlinghergently。\"Lookstraightbeforeyou，\"hegrowledintoherear。\"Doyouseeanything？\"Mrs。
Travers，passivebetweentherigidarms，couldseenothingbut，faroff，themassed，featurelessshadowsoftheshore。
\"No，Iseenothing，\"shesaid。
\"Youcan’tbelookingtherightway，\"sheheardhimbehindher。
AndnowshefeltherheadbetweenLingard’shands。Hemovedittheleastbittotheright。\"There！Seeit？\"
\"No。WhatamItolookfor？\"
\"Agleamoflight，\"saidLingard，takingawayhishandssuddenly。
\"Agleamthatwillgrowintoablazebeforeourboatcangethalfwayacrossthelagoon。\"
EvenasLingardspokeMrs。Traverscaughtsightofaredsparkfaraway。ShehadlookedoftenenoughattheSettlement，asonthefaceofapaintingonacurtain，tohaveitsconfigurationfixedinhermind，toknowthatitwasonthebeachatitsendfurthestfromBelarab’sstockade。
\"Thebrushwoodiscatching，\"murmuredLingardinherear。\"Iftheyhadsomedrygrassthewholepilewouldbeblazingbynow。\"
\"Andthismeans……\"
\"Itmeansthatthenewshasspread。AnditisbeforeTengga’senclosureonhisendofthebeach。That’swhereallthebrainsoftheSettlementare。Itmeanstalkandexcitementandplentyofcraftywords。Tengga’sfire！Itellyou，Mrs。Travers，thatbeforehalfanhourhaspassedDamanwillbetheretomakefriendswiththefatTengga，whoisreadytosaytohim，’Itoldyouso’。\"
\"Isee，\"murmuredMrs。Travers。Lingarddrewhergentlytotherail。
\"Andnowlookoverthereattheotherendofthebeachwheretheshadowsareheaviest。ThatisBelarab’sfort，hishouses，histreasure，hisdependents。That’swherethestrengthoftheSettlementis。Ikeptitup。Imadeitlast。Butwhatisitnow？
It’slikeaweaponinthehandofadeadman。Andyetit’sallwehavetolookto，ifindeedthereisstilltime。IsweartoyouI
wouldn’tdarelandthemindaylightforfeartheyshouldbeslaughteredonthebeach。\"
\"Thereisnotimetolose，\"whisperedMrs。Travers，andLingard，too，spokeverylow。
\"No，notifI，too，amtokeepwhatismyright。It’syouwhohavesaidit。\"
\"Yes，Ihavesaidit，\"shewhispered，withoutliftingherhead。
Lingardmadeabrusquemovementatherelbowandbenthisheadclosetohershoulder。
\"AndIwhomistrustedyou！LikeArabsdototheirgreatmen，I
oughttokissthehemofyourrobeinrepentanceforhavingdoubtedthegreatnessofyourheart。\"
\"Oh！myheart！\"saidMrs。Travers，lightly，stillgazingatthefire，whichhadsuddenlyshotuptoatallblaze。\"Icanassureyouithasbeenofverylittleaccountintheworld。\"Shepausedforamomenttosteadyhervoice，thensaid，firmly，\"Let’sgetthisover。\"
\"Totellyouthetruththeboathasbeenreadyforsometime。\"
\"Well，then……\"
\"Mrs。Travers，\"saidLingardwithaneffort，\"theyarepeopleofyourownkind。\"Andsuddenlyheburstout：\"Icannottakethemashoreboundhandandfoot。\"
\"Mr。d’Alcacerknows。Youwillfindhimready。Eversincethebeginninghehasbeenpreparedforwhatevermighthappen。\"
\"Heisaman，\"saidLingardwithconviction。\"Butit’softheotherthatIamthinking。\"
\"Ah，theother，\"sherepeated。\"Then，whataboutmythoughts？
LuckilywehaveMr。d’Alcacer。Ishallspeaktohimfirst。\"
SheturnedawayfromtherailandmovedtowardtheCage。
\"Jorgenson，\"thevoiceofLingardresoundedallalongthedeck，\"getalightonthegangway。\"ThenhefollowedMrs。Traversslowly。
VI
D’Alcacer，afterreceivinghiswarning，steppedbackandleanedagainsttheedgeofthetable。Hecouldnotignoreinhimselfacertainemotion。Andindeed，whenhehadaskedMrs。Traversforasignheexpectedtobemoved——buthehadnotexpectedthesigntocomesosoon。Heexpectedthisnighttopasslikeothernights，inbrokenslumbers，bodilydiscomfort，andtheunrestofdisconnectedthinking。Atthesametimehewassurprisedathisownemotion。Hehadflatteredhimselfonthepossessionofmorephilosophy。Hethoughtthatthisfamoussenseofself—preservationwasaqueerthing，apurelyanimalthing。\"For，asathinkingman，\"hereflected，\"Ireallyoughtnottocare。\"
Itwasprobablytheunusualthataffectedhim。Clearly。Ifhehadbeenlyingseriouslyillinaroominahotelandhadoverheardsomeominouswhispershewouldnothavecaredintheleast。Ah，butthenhewouldhavebeenill——andinillnessonegrowssoindifferent。Illnessisagreathelptounemotionalbehaviour，whichofcourseisthecorrectbehaviourforamanoftheworld。
Healmostregrettedhewasnotveryill。But，then，Mr。Traverswasobviouslyillanditdidnotseemtohelphimmuch。D’AlcacerglancedatthebedsteadwhereMr。Traverspreservedanimmobilitywhichstruckd’Alcacerasobviouslyaffected。Hemistrustedit。
GenerallyhemistrustedMr。Travers。Onecouldn’ttellwhathewoulddonext。Notthathecoulddomuchonewayoranother，butthatsomehowhethreatenedtorobthesituationofwhateverdignityitmayhavehadasastrokeoffate，asacalloncourage。Mr。d’Alcacer，acutelyobservantandalertfortheslightesthints，preferredtolookuponhimselfasthevictimnotofaswindlebutofaroughmannaivelyengagedinacontestwithheaven’sinjustice。D’Alcacerdidnotexaminehisheart，butsomelinesofaFrenchpoetcameintohismind，totheeffectthatinalltimesthosewhofoughtwithanunjustheavenhadpossessedthesecretadmirationandloveofmen。Hedidn’tgosofaraslovebuthecouldnotdenytohimselfthathisfeelingtowardLingardwassecretlyfriendlyand——well，appreciative。Mr。
Traverssatupsuddenly。Whatahorriblenuisance，thoughtd’Alcacer，fixinghiseyesonthetipsofhisshoeswiththehopethatperhapstheotherwouldliedownagain。Mr。Traversspoke。
\"Stillup，d’Alcacer？\"
