\"Iassureyouitisn’tlate。It’sdarkatsix，wedinedbeforeseven，thatmakesthenightlongandIamnotaverygoodsleeper；thatis，Icannotgotosleeptilllateinthenight。\"
\"Ienvyyou，\"saidMr。Travers，speakingwithasortofdrowsyapathy。\"Iamalwaysdroppingoffandtheawakeningsarehorrible。\"
D’Alcacer，raisinghiseyes，noticedthatMrs。TraversandLingardhadvanishedfromthelight。Theyhadgonetotherailwhered’Alcacercouldnotseethem。SomepitymingledwithhisvexationatMr。Travers’snatchywakefulness。Therewassomethingweirdabouttheman，hereflected。\"Jorgenson，\"hebeganaloud。
\"What’sthat？\"snappedMr。Travers。
\"It’sthenameofthatlankyoldstore—keeperwhoisalwaysaboutthedecks。\"
\"Ihaven’tseenhim。Idon’tseeanybody。Idon’tknowanybody。I
prefernottonotice。\"
\"Iwasonlygoingtosaythathegavemeapackofcards；wouldyoulikeagameofpiquet？\"
\"Idon’tthinkIcouldkeepmyeyesopen，\"saidMr。Traversinanunexpectedlyconfidentialtone。\"Isn’titfunny，d’Alcacer？AndthenIwakeup。It’stooawful。\"
D’AlcacermadenoremarkandMr。Traversseemednottohaveexpectedany。
\"WhenIsaidmywifewasmad，\"hebegan，suddenly，causingd’Alcacertostart，\"Ididn’tmeanitliterally，ofcourse。\"Histonesoundedslightlydogmaticandhedidn’tseemtobeawareofanyintervalduringwhichhehadappearedtosleep。D’Alcacerwasconvincedmorethaneverthathehadbeenshamming，andresignedhimselfwearilytolisten，foldinghisarmsacrosshischest。
\"WhatImeant，really，\"continuedMr。Travers，\"wasthatsheisthevictimofacraze。Societyissubjecttocrazes，asyouknowverywell。Theyarenotreprehensibleinthemselves，buttheworstofmywifeisthathercrazesareneverlikethoseofthepeoplewithwhomshenaturallyassociates。Theygenerallyruncountertothem。Thispeculiarityhasgivenmesomeanxiety，youunderstand，inthepositionweoccupy。Peoplewillbegintosaythatsheiseccentric。Doyouseeheranywhere，d’Alcacer？\"
D’Alcacerwasthankfultobeabletosaythathedidn’tseeMrs。
Travers。Hedidn’tevenhearanymurmurs，thoughhehadnodoubtthateverybodyonboardtheEmmawaswideawakebynow。ButMr。
Traversinspiredhimwithinvinciblemistrustandhethoughtitprudenttoadd：
\"Youforgetthatyourwifehasaroominthedeckhouse。\"
Thiswasasfarashewouldgo，forheknewverywellthatshewasnotinthedeckhouse。Mr。Travers，completelyconvincedbythestatement，madenosound。Butneitherdidheliedownagain。
D’Alcacergavehimselfuptomeditation。Thenightseemedextremelyoppressive。AtLingard’sshoutforJorgenson，thatintheprofoundsilencestruckhisearsominously，heraisedhiseyesandsawMrs。TraversoutsidethedooroftheCage。Hestartedforwardbutshewasalreadywithin。Hesawshewasmoved。
Sheseemedoutofbreathandasifunabletospeakatfirst。
\"Hadn’twebettershutthedoor？\"suggestedd’Alcacer。
\"CaptainLingard’scomingin，\"shewhisperedtohim。\"Hehasmadeuphismind。\"
\"That’sanexcellentthing，\"commentedd’Alcacer，quietly。\"I
concludefromthisthatweshallhearsomething。\"
\"Youshallhearitallfromme，\"breathedoutMrs。Travers。
\"Ah！\"exclaimedd’Alcacerverylow。
BythattimeLingardhadentered，too，andthedecksoftheEmmawereallastirwithmovingfigures。Jorgenson’svoicewasalsoheardgivingdirections。FornearlyaminutethefourpersonswithintheCageremainedmotionless。AshadowyMalayinthegangwaysaidsuddenly：\"Sudah，Tuan，\"andLingardmurmured，\"Ready，Mrs。Travers。\"
Sheseizedd’Alcacer’sarmandledhimtothesideoftheCagefurthestfromthecornerinwhichMr。Travers’bedwasplaced，whileLingardbusiedhimselfinprickingupthewickoftheCagelanternasifithadsuddenlyoccurredtohimthatthis，whateverhappened，shouldnotbeadeedofdarkness。Mr。Traversdidnothingbutturnhisheadtolookoverhisshoulder。
\"Onemoment，\"saidd’Alcacer，inalowtoneandsmilingatMrs。
Travers’agitation。\"Beforeyoutellmeanythingletmeaskyou：
’HaveYOUmadeupyourmind？’\"Hesawwithmuchsurpriseawideningofhereyes。Wasitindignation？Apauseasofsuspicionfellbetweenthosetwopeople。Thend’Alcacersaidapologetically：\"PerhapsIoughtnottohaveaskedthatquestion，\"andLingardcaughtMrs。Travers’words，\"Oh，Iamnotafraidtoanswerthatquestion。\"
Thentheirvoicessank。Lingardhungthelampupagainandstoodidleintherevivedlight；butalmostimmediatelyheheardd’Alcacercallinghimdiscreetly。
\"CaptainLingard！\"
Hemovedtowardthematonce。AtthesameinstantMr。Travers’
headpivotedawayfromthegrouptoitsfrontalposition。
D’Alcacer，veryserious，spokeinafamiliarundertone。
\"Mrs。TraverstellsmethatwemustbedelivereduptothoseMoorsonshore。\"
\"Yes，thereisnothingelseforit，\"saidLingard。
\"IconfessIamabitstartled，\"saidd’Alcacer；butexceptforaslightlyhurriedutterancenobodycouldhaveguessedatanythingresemblingemotion。
\"Ihavearighttomygoodname，\"saidLingard，alsoverycalm，whileMrs。Traversnearhim，withhalf—veiledeyes，listenedimpassivelikeapresidinggenius。
\"Iwouldn’tquestionthatforamoment，\"concededd’Alcacer。\"A
pointofhonourisnottobediscussed。Butthereissuchathingashumanity，too。Tobedelivereduphelplessly……\"
\"Perhaps！\"interruptedLingard。\"Butyouneedn’tfeelhopeless。I
amnotatlibertytogiveupmylifeforyourown。Mrs。Traversknowswhy。That，too，isengaged。\"
\"Alwaysonyourhonour？\"
\"Idon’tknow。Apromiseisapromise。\"
\"Nobodycanbeheldtotheimpossible，\"remarkedd’Alcacer。
\"Impossible！Whatisimpossible？Idon’tknowit。Iamnotamantotalkoftheimpossibleordodgebehindit。Ididnotbringyouhere。\"
D’Alcacerloweredhisheadforamoment。\"Ihavefinished，\"hesaid，gravely。\"ThatmuchIhadtosay。Ihopeyoudon’tthinkI
haveappearedundulyanxious。\"
\"It’sthebestpolicy，too。\"Mrs。Traversmadeherselfheardsuddenly。Nothingofhermovedbutherlips，shedidnotevenraisehereyes。\"It’stheonlypossiblepolicy。Youbelieveme，Mr。d’Alcacer？……\"Hemadeanalmostimperceptiblemovementofthehead……\"Well，then，Iputallmyhopeinyou，Mr。
d’Alcacer，togetthisoveraseasilyaspossibleandsaveusallfromsomeodiousscene。YouthinkperhapsthatitisIwhooughtto……\"
\"No，no！Idon’tthinkso，\"interruptedd’Alcacer。\"Itwouldbeimpossible。\"
\"Iamafraiditwould，\"sheadmitted，nervously。
D’AlcacermadeagestureasiftobeghertosaynomoreandatoncecrossedovertoMr。Travers’sideoftheCage。Hedidnotwanttogivehimselftimetothinkabouthistask。Mr。Traverswassittinguponthecampbedsteadwithalightcottonsheetoverhislegs。Hestaredatnothing，andonapproachinghimd’Alcacerdisregardedtheslightsinkingofhisownheartatthisaspectwhichseemedtobethatofextremeterror。\"Thisisawful，\"hethought。Themankeptasstillasahareinitsform。
Theimpressedd’Alcacerhadtomakeanefforttobringhimselftotaphimlightlyontheshoulder。
\"Themomenthascome，Travers，toshowsomefortitude，\"hesaidwitheasyintimacy。Mr。Traverslookedupswiftly。\"Ihavejustbeentalkingtoyourwife。ShehadacommunicationfromCaptainLingardforusboth。Itremainsforusnowtopreserveasmuchaspossibleourdignity。Ihopethatifnecessarywewillbothknowhowtodie。\"
Inamomentofprofoundstillness，d’Alcacerhadtimetowonderwhetherhisfacewasasstonyinexpressionastheoneupturnedtohim。Butsuddenlyasmileappearedonit，whichwascertainlythelastthingd’Alcacerexpectedtosee。Anindubitablesmile。A
slightlycontemptuoussmile。
\"Mywifehasbeenstuffingyourheadwithsomemoreofhernonsense。\"Mr。Traversspokeinavoicewhichastonishedd’Alcacerasmuchasthesmile，avoicethatwasnotirritablenorpeevish，buthadadistinctnoteofindulgence。\"Mydeard’Alcacer，thatcrazehasgotsuchaholdofherthatshewouldtellyouanysortoftale。Socialimpostors，mediums，fortune—tellers，charlatansofallsortsdoobtainastrangeinfluenceoverwomen。Youhaveseenthatsortofthingyourself。
Ihadatalkwithherbeforedinner。Theinfluencethatbandithasgotoverherisincredible。Ireallybelievethefellowishalfcrazyhimself。Theyoftenare，youknow。Igaveuparguingwithher。Now，whatisityouhavegottotellme？ButIwarnyouthatIamnotgoingtotakeitseriously。\"
Herejectedbrisklythecottonsheet，puthisfeettothegroundandbuttonedhisjacket。D’Alcacer，ashetalked，becameawarebytheslightnoisebehindhimthatMrs。TraversandLingardwereleavingtheCage，buthewentontotheendandthenwaitedanxiouslyfortheanswer。
\"See！Shehasfollowedhimoutondeck，\"wereMr。Travers’firstwords。\"Ihopeyouunderstandthatitisamerecraze。Youcan’thelpseeingthat。Lookathercostume。Shesimplyhaslostherhead。Luckilytheworldneedn’tknow。Butsupposethatsomethingsimilarhadhappenedathome。Itwouldhavebeenextremelyawkward。Oh！yes，Iwillcome。Iwillgoanywhere。Ican’tstandthishulk，thosepeople，thisinfernalCage。IbelieveIshouldfallillifIweretoremainhere。\"
TheinwarddetachedvoiceofJorgensonmadeitselfheardnearthegangwaysaying：\"Theboathasbeenwaitingforthishourpast，KingTom。\"
\"Letusmakeavirtueofnecessityandgowithagoodgrace，\"
saidd’Alcacer，readytotakeMr。Traversunderthearmpersuasively，forhedidnotknowwhattomakeofthatgentleman。
ButMr。Traversseemedanotherman。\"Iamafraid。d’Alcacer，thatyou，too，arenotverystrong—minded。Iamgoingtotakeablanketoffthisbedstead……\"Heflungithastilyoverhisarmandfollowedd’Alcacerclosely。\"WhatIsuffermostlyfrom，strangetosay，iscold。\"
Mrs。TraversandLingardwerewaitingnearthegangway。Toeverybody’sextremesurpriseMr。Traversaddressedhiswifefirst。
\"Youwerealwayslaughingatpeople’scrazes，\"waswhathesaid，\"andnowyouhaveacrazeofyourown。Butwewon’tdiscussthat。\"
D’Alcacerpassedon，raisinghiscaptoMrs。Travers，andwentdowntheship’ssideintotheboat。Jorgensonhadvanishedinhisownmannerlikeanexorcisedghost，andLingard，steppingback，lefthusbandandwifefacetoface。
\"DidyouthinkIwasgoingtomakeafuss？\"askedMr。Traversinaverylowvoice。\"IassureyouIwouldrathergothanstayhere。
Youdidn’tthinkthat？Youhavelostallsenseofreality，ofprobability。IwasjustthinkingthiseveningthatIwouldratherbeanywherethanherelookingonatyou。Atyourfolly……\"
Mrs。Travers’loud，\"Martin！\"madeLingardwince，causedd’Alcacertolifthisheaddownthereintheboat，andevenJorgenson，forwardsomewhereoutofsight，ceasedmumblinginhismoustache。TheonlypersonwhoseemednottohaveheardthatexclamationwasMr。Travershimself，whocontinuedsmoothly：
\"……attheaberrationofyourmind，youwhoseemedsosuperiortocommoncredulities。Youarenotyourself，notatall，andsomedayyouwilladmittomethat……No，thebestthingwillbetoforgetit，asyouwillsoonseeyourself。Weshallnevermentionthatsubjectinthefuture。Iamcertainyouwillbeonlytoogladtoagreewithmeonthatpoint。\"
\"Howfaraheadareyoulooking？\"askedMrs。Travers，findinghervoiceandeventheverytoneinwhichshewouldhaveaddressedhimhadtheybeenabouttopartinthehalloftheirtownhouse。
Shemighthavebeenaskinghimatwhattimeheexpectedtobehome，whileafootmanheldthedooropenandthebroughamwaitedinthestreet。
\"Notveryfar。Thiscan’tlastmuchlonger。\"Mr。Traversmadeamovementasiftoleaveherexactlyasthoughhewereratherpressedtokeepanappointment。\"Bytheby，\"hesaid，checkinghimself，\"Isupposethefellowunderstandsthoroughlythatwearewealthy。Hecouldhardlydoubtthat。\"
\"It’sthelastthoughtthatwouldenterhishead，\"saidMrs。
Travers。
\"Oh，yes，justso，\"Mr。Traversallowedalittleimpatiencetopierceunderhiscasualmanner。\"ButIdon’tmindtellingyouthatIhavehadenoughofthis。Iampreparedtomake——ah！——tomakeconcessions。Alargepecuniarysacrifice。Onlythewholepositionissoabsurd！Hemightconceivablydoubtmygoodfaith。
Wouldn’titbejustaswellifyou，withyourparticularinfluence，wouldhinttohimthatwithmehewouldhavenothingtofear？Iamamanofmyword。\"
\"Thatisthefirstthinghewouldnaturallythinkofanyman，\"
saidMrs。Travers。
\"Willyoureyesneverbeopened？\"Mr。Traversbegan，irritably，thengaveitup。\"Well，somuchthebetterthen。Igiveyouafreehand。\"
\"Whatmadeyouchangeyourattitudelikethis？\"askedMrs。
Travers，suspiciously。
\"Myregardforyou，\"heansweredwithouthesitation。
\"Iintendedtojoinyouinyourcaptivity。Iwasjusttryingtopersuadehim……\"
\"Iforbidyouabsolutely，\"whisperedMr。Travers，forcibly。\"Iamgladtogetaway。Idon’twanttoseeyouagaintillyourcrazeisover。\"
Shewasconfoundedbyhissecretvehemence。Butinstantlysucceedinghisfiercewhispercameashort，inanesocietylaughandamuchlouder，\"NotthatIattachanyimportance……\"
Hesprangaway，asitwere，fromhiswife，andashewentoverthegangwaywavedhishandtoheramiably。
LighteddimlybythelanternontheroofofthedeckhouseMrs。
Traversremainedverystillwithloweredheadandanaspectofprofoundmeditation。ItlastedbutaninstantbeforeshemovedoffandbrushingagainstLingardpassedonwithdowncasteyestoherdeckcabin。Lingardheardthedoorshut。Hewaitedawhile，madeamovementtowardthegangwaybutcheckedhimselfandfollowedMrs。Traversintohercabin。
Itwaspitchdarkinthere。Hecouldseeabsolutelynothingandwasoppressedbytheprofoundstillnessunstirredevenbythesoundofbreathing。
\"Iamgoingonshore，\"hebegan，breakingtheblackanddeathlikesilenceenclosinghimandtheinvisiblewoman。\"Iwantedtosaygood—bye。\"
\"Youaregoingonshore，\"repeatedMrs。Travers。Hervoicewasemotionless，blank，unringing。
\"Yes，forafewhours，orforlife，\"Lingardsaidinmeasuredtones。\"Imayhavetodiewiththemortodiemaybeforothers。
Foryou，ifIonlyknewhowtomanageit，Iwouldwanttolive。I
amtellingyouthisbecauseitisdark。IftherehadbeenalightinhereIwouldn’thavecomein。\"
\"Iwishyouhadnot，\"utteredthesameunringingwoman’svoice。
\"Youarealwayscomingtomewiththoselivesandthosedeathsinyourhand。\"
\"Yes，it’stoomuchforyou，\"wasLingard’sundertonedcomment。
\"Youcouldbenootherthantrue。Andyouareinnocent！Don’twishmelife，butwishmeluck，foryouareinnocent——andyouwillhavetotakeyourchance。\"
\"Alllucktoyou，KingTom，\"heheardhersayinthedarknessinwhichheseemednowtoperceivethegleamofherhair。\"Iwilltakemychance。AndtrynottocomenearmeagainforIamwearyofyou。\"
\"Icanwellbelieveit，\"murmuredLingard，andsteppedoutofthecabin，shuttingthedoorafterhimgently。Forhalfaminute，perhaps，thestillnesscontinued，andthensuddenlythechairfelloverinthedarkness。NextmomentMrs。Travers’headappearedinthelightofthelampleftontheroofofthedeckhouse。Herbarearmsgraspedthedoorposts。
\"Waitamoment，\"shesaid，loudly，intotheshadowsofthedeck。
Sheheardnofootsteps，sawnothingmovingexceptthevanishingwhiteshapeofthelateCaptainH。C。Jorgenson，whowasindifferenttothelifeofmen。\"Wait，KingTom！\"sheinsisted，raisinghervoice；then，\"Ididn’tmeanit。Don’tbelieveme！\"
shecried，recklessly。
Forthesecondtimethatnightawoman’svoicestartledtheheartsofmenonboardtheEmma。AllexcepttheheartofoldJorgenson。TheMalaysintheboatlookedupfromtheirthwarts。
D’Alcacer，sittinginthesternsheetsbesideLingard，feltasinkingofhisheart。
\"What’sthis？\"heexclaimed。\"Iheardyournameondeck。Youarewanted，Ithink。\"
\"Shoveoff，\"orderedLingard，inflexibly，withoutevenlookingatd’Alcacer。Mr。Traverswastheonlyonewhodidn’tseemtobeawareofanything。AlongtimeaftertheboatlefttheEmma’ssideheleanedtowardd’Alcacer。
\"Ihaveamostextraordinaryfeeling，\"hesaidinacautiousundertone。\"Iseemtobeintheair——Idon’tknow。Areweonthewater，d’Alcacer？Areyouquitesure？Butofcourse，weareonthewater。\"
\"Yes，\"saidd’Alcacer，inthesametone。\"CrossingtheStyx——perhaps。\"HeheardMr。Traversutteranunmoved\"Verylikely，\"whichhedidnotexpect。Lingard，hishandonthetiller，satlikeamanofstone。
\"Thenyourpointofviewhaschanged，\"whisperedd’Alcacer。
\"Itoldmywifetomakeanoffer，\"wentontheearnestwhisperoftheotherman。\"Asumofmoney。ButtotellyouthetruthIdon’tbelieveverymuchinitssuccess。\"
D’Alcacermadenoanswerandonlywonderedwhetherhedidn’tlikebetterMr。Travers’other，unreasonablemood。TherewasnodenyingthefactthatMr。Traverswasatroublingperson。Nowhesuddenlygrippedd’Alcacer’sfore—armandaddedunderhisbreath：
\"Idoubteverything。Idoubtwhethertheofferwilleverbemade。\"
Allthiswasnotveryimpressive。Therewassomethingpitifulinit：whisper，grip，shudder，asofachildfrightenedinthedark。
Buttheemotionwasdeep。Oncemorethatevening，butthistimearousedbythehusband’sdistress，d’Alcacer’swonderapproachedthebordersofawe。
PARTVI。THECLAIMOFLIFEANDTHETOLLOFDEATH
I
\"HaveyougotKingTom’swatchinthere？\"saidavoicethatseemednottoattachtheslightestimportancetothequestion。
Jorgenson，outsidethedoorofMrs。Travers’partofthedeckhouse，waitedfortheanswer。Heheardalowcryverymuchlikeamoan，thestartledsoundofpainthatmaybesometimesheardinsickrooms。Butitmovedhimnotatall。Hewouldneverhavedreamtofopeningthedoorunlesstoldtodoso，inwhichcasehewouldhavebeheld，withcompleteindifference，Mrs。
Traversextendedonthefloorwithherheadrestingontheedgeofthecampbedstead（onwhichLingardhadneverslept），asthoughshehadsubsidedtherefromakneelingposturewhichistheattitudeofprayer，supplication，ordefeat。ThehoursofthenighthadpassedMrs。Traversby。Afterflingingherselfonherknees，shedidn’tknowwhy，sinceshecouldthinkofnothingtoprayfor，hadnothingtoinvoke，andwastoofargoneforsuchafutilethingasdespair，shehadremainedtheretillthesenseofexhaustionhadgrownonhertothepointinwhichshelostherbeliefinherpowertorise。Inahalf—sittingattitude，herheadrestingagainsttheedgeofthecouchandherarmsflungaboveherhead，shesankintoanindifference，themereresignationofaworn—outbodyandaworn—outmindwhichoftenistheonlysortofrestthatcomestopeoplewhoaredesperatelyillandiswelcomeenoughinaway。ThevoiceofJorgensonrousedheroutofthatstate。Shesatup，achingineverylimbandcoldallover。
Jorgenson，behindthedoor，repeatedwithlifelessobstinacy：
\"DoyouseeKingTom’swatchinthere？\"
Mrs。Traversgotupfromthefloor。Shetottered，snatchingattheair，andfoundthebackofthearmchairunderherhand。
\"Who’sthere？\"
Shewasalsoreadytoask：\"WhereamI？\"butsherememberedandatoncebecamethepreyofthatactivedreadwhichhadbeenlyingdormantforafewhoursinheruneasyandprostratebody。\"Whattimeisit？\"shefalteredout。
\"Dawn，\"pronouncedtheimperturbablevoiceatthedoor。Itseemedtoherthatitwasawordthatcouldmakeanyheartsinkwithapprehension。Dawn！Shestoodappalled。Andthetonelessvoiceoutsidethedoorinsisted：
\"YoumusthaveTom’swatchthere！\"
\"Ihaven’tseenit，\"shecriedasiftormentedbyadream。
\"Lookinthatdeskthing。Ifyoupushopentheshutteryouwillbeabletosee。\"
Mrs。Traversbecameawareoftheprofounddarknessofthecabin。
Jorgensonheardherstaggeringinthere。Afteramomentawoman’svoice，whichstruckevenhimasstrange，saidinfainttones：
\"Ihaveit。It’sstopped。\"
\"Itdoesn’tmatter。Idon’twanttoknowthetime。Thereshouldbeakeyabout。Seeitanywhere？\"
\"Yes，it’sfastenedtothewatch，\"thedazedvoiceansweredfromwithin。Jorgensonwaitedbeforemakinghisrequest。\"Willyoupassitouttome？There’spreciouslittletimeleftnow！\"
Thedoorflewopen，whichwascertainlysomethingJorgensonhadnotexpected。Hehadexpectedbutahandwiththewatchprotrudedthroughanarrowcrack，Buthedidn’tstartbackorgiveanyothersignofsurpriseatseeingMrs。Traversfullydressed。
Againstthefaintclearnessintheframeoftheopenshuttershepresentedtohimthedarksilhouetteofhershoulderssurmountedbyasleekhead，becauseherhairwasstillinthetwoplaits。ToJorgensonMrs。Traversinherun—Europeandresshadalwaysbeendispleasing，almostmonstrous。Herstature，hergestures，hergeneralcarriagestruckhiseyeasabsurdlyincongruouswithaMalaycostume，tooample，toofree，toobold——offensive。ToMrs。
Travers，Jorgenson，intheduskofthepassage，hadtheaspectofadimwhiteghost，andhechilledherbyhisghost’saloofness。
Hepickedupthewatchfromheroutspreadpalmwithoutawordofthanks，onlymumblinginhismoustache，\"H’m，yes，that’sit。I
haven’tyetforgottenhowtocountsecondscorrectly，butit’sbettertohaveawatch。\"
Shehadnottheslightestnotionwhathemeant。Andshedidnotcare。Hermindremainedconfusedandthesenseofbodilydiscomfortoppressedher。Shewhispered，shamefacedly，\"IbelieveI’veslept。\"
\"Ihaven’t，\"mumbledJorgenson，growingmoreandmoredistincttohereyes。ThebrightnessoftheshortdawnincreasedrapidlyasifthesunwereimpatienttolookupontheSettlement。\"Nofearofthat，\"headded，boastfully。
ItoccurredtoMrs。Traversthatperhapsshehadnotslepteither。Herstatehadbeenmorelikeanimperfect，half—conscious，quiveringdeath。Sheshudderedattherecollection。
\"Whatanawfulnight，\"shemurmured，drearily。
TherewasnothingtohopeforfromJorgenson。Sheexpectedhimtovanish，indifferent，likeaphantomofthedeadcarryingofftheappropriatelydeadwatchinhishandforsomeunearthlypurpose。
Jorgensondidn’tmove。Hiswasaninsensible，almostasenselesspresence！Nothingcouldbeextortedfromit。ButawaveofanguishasconfusedasallherothersensationssweptMrs。
Traversoffherfeet。
\"Can’tyoutellmesomething？\"shecried。
ForhalfaminuteperhapsJorgensonmadenosound；then：\"ForyearsIhavebeentellinganybodywhocaredtoask，\"hemumbledinhismoustache。\"TellingTom，too。AndTomknewwhathewantedtodo。How’sonetoknowwhatYOUareafter？\"
Shehadneverexpectedtohearsomanywordsfromthatrigidshadow。Itsmonotonousmumblewasfascinating，itssuddenloquacitywasshocking。Andintheprofoundstillnessthatreignedoutsideitwasasiftherehadbeennooneleftintheworldwithherbutthephantomofthatoldadventurer。Hewasheardagain：\"WhatIcouldtellyouwouldbeworsethanpoison。\"
Mrs。TraverswasnotfamiliarwithJorgenson’sconsecratedphrases。Themechanicalvoice，thewordsthemselves，hisairofabstractionappalledher。Andhehadn’tdoneyet；shecaughtsomemoreofhisunconcernedmumbling：\"ThereisnothingIdon’tknow，\"andtheabsurdityofthestatementwasalsoappalling。
Mrs。Traversgaspedandwithawildlittlelaugh：
\"ThenyouknowwhyIcalledafterKingTomlastnight。\"
Heglancedawayalonghisshoulderthroughthedoorofthedeckhouseatthegrowingbrightnessoftheday。Shedidso，too。
Itwascoming。Ithadcome！Anotherday！AnditseemedtoMrs。
Traversaworsecalamitythananydiscoveryshehadmadeinherlife，thananythingshecouldhaveimaginedtocometoher。Theverymagnitudeofhorrorsteadiedher，seemedtocalmheragitationassomekindsoffataldrugsdobeforetheykill。ShelaidasteadyhandonJorgenson’ssleeveandspokequietly，distinctly，urgently。
\"Youwereondeck。WhatIwanttoknowiswhetherIwasheard？\"
\"Yes，\"saidJorgenson，absently，\"Iheardyou。\"Then，asifrousedalittle，headdedlessmechanically：\"Thewholeshipheardyou。\"
