第3章

CHAPTERVIII

Atlast，onemorning，inaclearspotofaglassyhorizonchargedwithheraldicmassesofblackvapours，theislandgrewoutfromthesea，showinghereandthereitsnakedmembersofbasalticrockthroughtherentsofheavyfoliage。Later，inthegreatspillingofalltherichesofsunset，Malatastoodoutgreenandrosybeforeturningintoavioletshadowintheautumnallightoftheexpiringday。Thencamethenight。Inthefaintairstheschoonercreptonpastasturdysquatheadland，anditwaspitchdarkwhenherheadsailsrandown，sheturnedshortonherheel，andheranchorbitintothesandybottomontheedgeoftheouterreef；foritwastoodangerousthentoattemptenteringthelittlebayfullofshoals。AfterthelastsolemnflutterofthemainsailthemurmuringvoicesoftheMoorsompartylingered，veryfrail，intheblackstillness。

Theyweresittingaft，onchairs，andnobodymadeamove。Earlyintheday，whenithadbecomeevidentthatthewindwasfailing，Renouard，basinghisadviceontheshortcomingsofhisbachelorestablishment，hadurgedontheladiestheadvisabilityofnotgoingashoreinthemiddleofthenight。Nowheapproachedtheminaconstrainedmanner(itwasastonishingtheconstraintthathadreignedbetweenhimandhisguestsallthroughthepassage)andrenewedhisarguments。Nooneashorewoulddreamofhisbringinganyvisitorswithhim。Nobodywouldeventhinkofcomingoff。

Therewasonlyoneoldcanoeontheplantation。Andlandingintheschooner"sboatswouldbeawkwardinthedark。Therewastheriskofgettingagroundonsomeshallowpatches。Itwouldbebesttospendtherestofthenightonboard。

Therewasreallynoopposition。Theprofessorsmokingapipe，andverycomfortableinanulsterbuttonedoverhistropicalclothes，wasthefirsttospeakfromhislongchair。

"Mostexcellentadvice。"

NexttohimMissMoorsomassentedbyalongsilence。Theninavoiceasofonecomingoutofadream-

"AndsothisisMalata，"shesaid。"Ihaveoftenwondered……"

AshiverpassedthroughRenouard。Shehadwondered!Whatabout？

Malatawashimself。HeandMalatawereone。Andshehadwondered!

Shehad……

Theprofessor"ssisterleanedovertowardsRenouard。Throughallthesedaysatseatheman"s-thefoundman"s-existencehadnotbeenalludedtoonboardtheschooner。Thatreticencewaspartofthegeneralconstraintlyinguponthemall。She，herself，certainlyhadnotbeenexactlyelatedbythisfinding-poorArthur，withoutmoney，withoutprospects。Butshefeltmovedbythesentimentandromanceofthesituation。

"Isn"titwonderful，"shewhisperedoutofherwhitewrap，"tothinkofpoorArthursleepingthere，soneartoourdearlovelyFelicia，andnotknowingtheimmensejoyinstoreforhimto-

morrow。"

Therewassuchartificialityinthewax-flowerladythatnothinginthisspeechtouchedRenouard。Itwasbutthesimpleanxietyofhisheartthathewasvoicingwhenhemutteredgloomily-

"Nooneintheworldknowswhatto-morrowmayholdinstore。"

Thematureladyhadarecoilasthoughhehadsaidsomethingimpolite。Whataharshthingtosay-insteadoffindingsomethingniceandappropriate。Onboard，wheresheneversawhimineveningclothes，Renouard"sresemblancetoaduke"ssonwasnotsoapparenttoher。Nothingbuthis-ah-bohemianismremained。Sherosewithasortofostentation。

"It"slate-andsincewearegoingtosleeponboardto-night……"shesaid。"Butitdoesseemsocruel。"

Theprofessorstartedupeagerly，knockingtheashesoutofhispipe。"Infinitelymoresensible，mydearEmma。"

RenouardwaitedbehindMissMoorsom"schair。

Shegotupslowly，movedonestepforward，andpausedlookingattheshore。Theblacknessoftheislandblottedoutthestarswithitsvaguemasslikealowthundercloudbroodingoverthewatersandreadytoburstintoflameandcrashes。

"Andso-thisisMalata，"sherepeateddreamily，movingtowardsthecabindoor。Theclearcloakhangingfromhershoulders，theivoryface-forthenighthadputoutnothingofherbutthegleamsofherhair-madeherresembleashiningdream-womanutteringwordsofwistfulinquiry。Shedisappearedwithoutasign，leavingRenouardpenetratedtotheverymarrowbythesoundsthatcamefromherbodylikeamysteriousresonanceofanexquisiteinstrument。

Hestoodstockstill。Whatwasthisaccidentaltouchwhichhadevokedthestrangeaccentofhervoice？Hedarednotanswerthatquestion。Buthehadtoanswerthequestionofwhatwastobedonenow。Hadthemomentofconfessioncome？Thethoughtwasenoughtomakeone"sbloodruncold。

Itwasasifthosepeoplehadapremonitionofsomething。Inthetaciturndaysofthepassagehehadnoticedtheirreserveevenamongstthemselves。Theprofessorsmokedhispipemoodilyinretiredspots。RenouardhadcaughtMissMoorsom"seyesrestingonhimselfmorethanonce，withapeculiarandgraveexpression。Hefanciedthatsheavoidedallopportunitiesofconversation。Themaidenladyseemedtonurseagrievance。Andnowwhathadhetodo？

Thelightsonthedeckhadgoneoutoneaftertheother。Theschoonerslept。

AboutanhourafterMissMoorsomhadgonebelowwithoutasignorawordforhim，Renouardgotoutofhishammockslunginthewaistunderthemidshipawning-forhehadgivenupalltheaccommodationbelowtohisguests。Hegotoutwithasuddenswiftmovement，flungoffhissleepingjacket，rolledhispyjamasuphisthighs，andstoleforward，unseenbytheoneKanakaoftheanchor-

watch。Hiswhitetorso，nakedlikeastrippedathlete"s，glimmered，ghostly，inthedeepshadowsofthedeck。Unnoticedhegotoutoftheshipovertheknight-heads，ranalongthebackrope，andseizingthedolphin-strikerfirmlywithbothhands，loweredhimselfintotheseawithoutasplash。

Heswamaway，noiselesslikeafish，andthenstruckboldlyfortheland，sustained，embraced，bythetepidwater。Thegentle，voluptuousheaveofitsbreastswunghimupanddownslightly；

sometimesawaveletmurmuredinhisears；fromtimetotime，loweringhisfeet，hefeltforthebottomonashallowpatchtorestandcorrecthisdirection。Helandedatthelowerendofthebungalowgarden，intothedeadstillnessoftheisland。Therewerenolights。Theplantationseemedtosleep，asprofoundlyastheschooner。Onthepathasmallshellcrackedunderhisnakedheel。

Thefaithfulhalf-casteforemangoinghisroundscockedhisearsatthesharpsound。Hegaveoneenormousstartoffearatthesightoftheswiftwhitefigureflyingathimoutofthenight。Hecrouchedinterror，andthensprangupandclickedhistongueinamazedrecognition。

"Tse!Tse!Themaster!"

"Bequiet，Luiz，andlistentowhatIsay。"

Yes，itwasthemaster，thestrongmasterwhowasneverknowntoraisehisvoice，themanblindlyobeyedandneverquestioned。Hetalkedlowandrapidlyinthequietnight，asifeveryminutewereprecious。OnlearningthatthreeguestswerecomingtostayLuizclickedhistonguerapidly。Theseclicksweretheuniform，stenographicsymbolsofhisemotions，andhecouldgivethemaninfinitevarietyofmeaning。Helistenedtotherestinadeepsilencehardlyaffectedbythelow，"Yes，master，"wheneverRenouardpaused。

"Youunderstand？"thelatterinsisted。"Nopreparationsaretobemadetillwelandinthemorning。AndyouaretosaythatMr。

Walterhasgoneoffinatradingschooneronaroundoftheislands。"

"Yes，master。"

"Nomistakes-mind!"

"No，master。"

Renouardwalkedbacktowardsthesea。Luiz，followinghim，proposedtocallouthalfadozenboysandmanthecanoe。

"Imbecile!"

"Tse!Tse!Tse!"

"Don"tyouunderstandthatyouhaven"tseenme？"

"Yes，master。Butwhatalongswim。Supposeyoudrown。"

"ThenyoucansayofmeandofMr。Walterwhatyoulike。Thedeaddon"tmind。"

Renouardenteredtheseaandheardafaint"Tse!Tse!Tse!"ofconcernfromthehalf-caste，whohadalreadylostsightofthemaster"sdarkheadontheovershadowedwater。

Renouardsethisdirectionbyabigstarthat，dippingonthehorizon，seemedtolookcuriouslyintohisface。Onthisswimbackhefeltthemournfulfatigueofallthatlengthofthetraversedroad，whichbroughthimnonearertohisdesire。Itwasasifhislovehadsappedtheinvisiblesupportsofhisstrength。Therecameamomentwhenitseemedtohimthathemusthaveswumbeyondtheconfinesoflife。Hehadasensationofeternitycloseathand，demandingnoeffort-offeringitspeace。Itwaseasytoswimlikethisbeyondtheconfinesoflifelookingatastar。Butthethought:"TheywillthinkIdarednotfacethemandcommittedsuicide，"causedarevoltofhismindwhichcarriedhimon。Hereturnedonboard，ashehadleft，unheardandunseen。Helayinhishammockutterlyexhaustedandwithaconfusedfeelingthathehadbeenbeyondtheconfinesoflife，somewherenearastar，andthatitwasveryquietthere。

CHAPTERIX

Shelteredbythesquatheadlandfromthefirstmorningsparkleoftheseathelittlebaybreathedadeliciousfreshness。Thepartyfromtheschoonerlandedatthebottomofthegarden。Theyexchangedinsignificantwordsinstudiouslycasualtones。Theprofessor"ssisterputupalong-handledeye-glassasiftoscanthenovelsurroundings，butinrealitysearchingforpoorArthuranxiously。Havingneverseenhimotherwisethaninhistownclothesshehadnoideawhathewouldlooklike。IthadbeenlefttotheprofessortohelphisladiesoutoftheboatbecauseRenouard，asifintentongivingdirections，hadsteppedforwardatoncetomeetthehalf-casteLuizhurryingdownthepath。Inthedistance，infrontofthedazzlinglysunlitbungalow，arowofdark-facedhouse-boysunequalinstatureandvariedincomplexionpreservedtheimmobilityofaguardofhonour。

Luizhadtakenoffhissoftfelthatbeforecomingwithinearshot。

Renouardbenthisheadtohisrapidtalkofdomesticarrangementshemeanttomakeforthevisitors；anotherbedinthemaster"sroomfortheladiesandacotforthegentlemantobehungintheroomoppositewhere-whereMr。Walter-herehegaveascaredlookallround-Mr。Walter-haddied。

"Verygood，"assentedRenouardinanevenundertone。"Andrememberwhatyouhavetosayofhim。"

"Yes，master。Only"-hewriggledslightlyandputonebarefootontheotherforamomentinapologeticembarrassment-"onlyI-I-

don"tliketosayit。"

Renouardlookedathimwithoutanger，withoutanysortofexpression。"Frightenedofthedead？Eh？Well-allright。I

willsayitmyself-Isupposeonceforall……Immediatelyheraisedhisvoiceverymuch。

"Sendtheboysdowntobringuptheluggage。"

"Yes，master。"

Renouardturnedtohisdistinguishedguestswho，likeapersonallyconductedpartyoftourists，hadstoppedandwerelookingaboutthem。

"Iamsorry，"hebeganwithanimpassiveface。"MymanhasjusttoldmethatMr。Walter……"hemanagedtosmile，butdidn"tcorrecthimself……"hasgoneinatradingschooneronashorttouroftheislands，tothewestward。"

Thiscommunicationwasreceivedinprofoundsilence。

Renouardforgothimselfinthethought:"It"sdone!"Butthesightofthestringofboysmarchinguptothehousewithsuit-

casesanddressing-bagsrescuedhimfromthatappallingabstraction。

"AllIcandoistobegyoutomakeyourselvesathome……withwhatpatienceyoumay。"

Thiswassoobviouslytheonlythingtodothateverybodymovedonatonce。TheprofessorwalkedalongsideRenouard，behindthetwoladies。

"Ratherunexpected-thisabsence。"

"Notexactly，"mutteredRenouard。"Atriphastobemadeeveryyeartoengagelabour。"

"Isee……Andhe……Howvexinglyelusivethepoorfellowhasbecome!I"llbegintothinkthatsomewickedfairyisfavouringthislovetalewithunpleasantattentions。"

Renouardnoticedthatthepartydidnotseemweigheddownbythisnewdisappointment。Onthecontrarytheymovedwithafreerstep。

Theprofessor"ssisterdroppedhereye-glasstotheendofitschain。MissMoorsomtookthelead。Theprofessor，hislipsunsealed，lingeredintheopen:butRenouarddidnotlistentothatman"stalk。Helookedafterthatman"sdaughter-ifindeedthatcreatureofirresistibleseductionswereadaughterofmortals。Theveryintensityofhisdesire，asifhissoulwerestreamingafterherthroughhiseyes，defeatedhisobjectofkeepingholdofheraslongaspossiblewith，atleast，oneofhissenses。Hermovingoutlinesdissolvedintoamistycolouredshimmerofawomanmadeofflameandshadows，crossingthethresholdofhishouse。

ThedayswhichfollowedwerenotexactlysuchasRenouardhadfeared-yettheywerenotbetterthanhisfears。Theywereaccursedinallthemoodstheybroughthim。Butthegeneralaspectofthingswasquiet。Theprofessorsmokedinnumerablepipeswiththeairofaworkeronhisholiday，alwaysinmovementandlookingatthingswiththatmysteriouslysagaciousaspectofmenwhoareadmittedlywiserthantherestoftheworld。Hiswhiteheadofhair-whiterthananythingwithinthehorizonexceptthebrokenwateronthereefs-wasglimpsedineverypartoftheplantationalwaysonthemoveunderthewhiteparasol。Andonceheclimbedtheheadlandandappearedsuddenlytothosebelow，awhitespeckelevatedintheblue，withadiminutivebutstatuesqueeffect。

FeliciaMoorsomremainednearthehouse。Sometimesshecouldbeseenwithadespairingexpressionscribblingrapidlyinherlock-updairy。Butonlyforamoment。AtthesoundofRenouard"sfootstepsshewouldturntowardshimherbeautifulface，adorableinthatcalmwhichwaslikeawilful，likeacruelignoringofhertremendouspower。Whenevershesatontheverandah，onachairmorespeciallyreservedforheruse，Renouardwouldstrollupandsitonthestepsnearher，mostlysilent，andoftennottrustinghimselftoturnhisglanceonher。She，verystillwithhereyeshalf-closed，lookeddownonhishead-sothattoabeholder(suchasProfessorMoorsom，forinstance)shewouldappeartobeturningoverinhermindprofoundthoughtsaboutthatmansittingatherfeet，hisshouldersbowedalittle，hishandslistless-asifvanquished。And，indeed，themoralpoisonoffalsehoodhassuchadecomposingpowerthatRenouardfelthisoldpersonalityturntodeaddust。Often，intheevening，whentheysatoutsideconversinglanguidlyinthedark，hefeltthathemustresthisforeheadonherfeetandburstintotears。

Theprofessor"ssistersufferedfromsomelittlestraincausedbytheunstabilityofherownfeelingstowardRenouard。Shecouldnottellwhethershereallydiddislikehimornot。Attimesheappearedtohermostfascinating；and，thoughhegenerallyendedbysayingsomethingshockinglycrude，shecouldnotresistherinclinationtotalkwithhim-atleastnotalways。Onedaywhenherniecehadleftthemaloneontheverandahsheleanedforwardinherchair-speckless，resplendent，and，inherway，almostasstrikingapersonalityasherniece，whodidnotresembleherintheleast。"DearFeliciahasinheritedherhairandthegreatestpartofherappearancefromhermother，"themaidenladyusedtotellpeople。

Sheleanedforwardthen，confidentially。

"Oh!Mr。Renouard!Haven"tyousomethingcomfortingtosay？"

Helookedup，assurprisedasifavoicefromheavenhadspokenwiththisperfectsocietyintonation，andbythepuzzledprofundityofhisblueeyesflutteredthewax-flowerofrefinedwomanhood。

Shecontinued。"For-Icanspeaktoyouopenlyonthistiresomesubject-onlythinkwhataterriblestrainthishopedeferredmustbeforFelicia"sheart-forhernerves。"

"Whyspeaktomeaboutit，"hemutteredfeelinghalfchokedsuddenly。

"Why!Asafriend-awell-wisher-thekindestofhosts。Iamafraidwearereallyeatingyououtofhouseandhome。"Shelaughedalittle。"Ah!When，whenwillthissuspenseberelieved!

ThatpoorlostArthur!IconfessthatIamalmostafraidofthegreatmoment。Itwillbelikeseeingaghost。"

"Haveyoueverseenaghost？"askedRenouard，inadullvoice。

Sheshiftedherhandsalittle。Herposewasperfectinitseaseandmiddle-agedgrace。

"Notactually。Onlyinaphotograph。Butwehavemanyfriendswhohadtheexperienceofapparitions。"

"Ah!TheyseeghostsinLondon，"mumbledRenouard，notlookingather。

"Frequently-inacertainveryinterestingset。Butallsortsofpeopledo。Wehaveafriend，averyfamousauthor-hisghostisagirl。Oneofmybrother"sintimatesisaverygreatmanofscience。Heisfriendlywithaghost……Ofagirltoo，"sheaddedinavoiceasifstruckforthefirsttimebythecoincidence。"ItisthephotographofthatapparitionwhichIhaveseen。Verysweet。Mostinteresting。Alittlecloudynaturally……Mr。Renouard!Ihopeyouarenotasceptic。It"ssoconsolingtothink……"

"Thoseplantationboysofmineseeghoststoo，"saidRenouardgrimly。

Thesisterofthephilosophersatupstiffly。Whatcrudeness!Itwasalwayssowiththisstrangeyoungman。

"Mr。Renouard!Howcanyoucomparethesuperstitiousfanciesofyourhorriblesavageswiththemanifestations……"

Wordsfailedher。Shebrokeoffwithaveryfaintprimlyangrysmile。Shewasperhapsthemoreoffendedwithhimbecauseofthatflutteratthebeginningoftheconversation。Andinamomentwithperfecttactanddignityshegotupfromherchairandlefthimalone。

Renouarddidn"tevenlookup。Itwasnotthedispleasureoftheladywhichdeprivedhimofhissleepthatnight。Hewasbeginningtoforgetwhatsimple，honestsleepwaslike。Hishammockfromtheshiphadbeenhungforhimonasideverandah，andhespenthisnightsinitonhisback，hishandsfoldedonhischest，inasortofhalfconscious，oppressedstupor。Inthemorninghewatchedwithunseeingeyestheheadlandcomeoutashapelessinkblotagainstthethinlightofthefalsedawn，passthroughallthestagesofdaybreaktothedeeppurpleofitsoutlinedmassnimbedgloriouslywiththegoldoftherisingsun。Helistenedtothevaguesoundsofwakingwithinthehouse:andsuddenlyhebecameawareofLuizstandingbythehammock-obviouslytroubled。

"What"sthematter？"

"Tse!Tse!Tse!"

"Well，whatnow？Troublewiththeboys？"

"No，master。ThegentlemanwhenItakehimhisbathwaterhespeaktome。Heaskme-heask-when，when，IthinkMr。Walter，hecomeback。"

Thehalf-caste"steethchatteredslightly。Renouardgotoutofthehammock。

"Andheishereallthetime-eh？"

Luiznoddedascaredaffirmative，butatonceprotested，"Inoseehim。Inever。NotI!Theignorantwildboyssaytheysee……

Something!Ough!"

Heclappedhisteethonanothershortrattle，andstoodthere，shrunk，blighted，likeamaninafreezingblast。

"Andwhatdidyousaytothegentleman？"

"IsayIdon"tknow-andIclearout。I-Idon"tliketospeakofhim。"

"Allright。Weshalltrytolaythatpoorghost，"saidRenouardgloomily，goingofftoasmallhutnearbytodress。Hewassayingtohimself:"Thisfellowwillendbygivingmeaway。ThelastthingthatI……No!Thatmustn"tbe。"Andfeelinghishandbeingforcedhediscoveredthewholeextentofhiscowardice。

CHAPTERX

Thatmorningwanderingabouthisplantation，morelikeafrightenedsoulthanitscreatorandmaster，hedodgedthewhiteparasolbobbinguphereandtherelikeabuoyadriftonaseaofdark-greenplants。Thecroppromisedtobemagnificent，andthefashionablephilosopheroftheagetookotherthanamerelyscientificinterestintheexperiment。Hisinvestmentswerejudicious，buthehadalwayssomelittlemoneylyingby，forexperiments。

Afterlunch，beingleftalonewithRenouard，hetalkedalittleofcultivationandsuchmatters。Thensuddenly:

"Bytheway，isittruewhatmysistertellsme，thatyourplantationboyshavebeendisturbedbyaghost？"

Renouard，whosincetheladieshadleftthetablewasnotkeepingsuchastrictwatchonhimself，cameoutofhisabstractionwithastartandastiffsmile。

"Myforemanhadsometroublewiththemduringmyabsence。Theyfunkworkinginacertainfieldontheslopeofthehill。"

"Aghosthere!"exclaimedtheamusedprofessor。"Thenourwholeconceptionofthepsychologyofghostsmustberevised。Thisislandhasbeenuninhabitedprobablysincethedawnofages。Howdidaghostcomehere。Byairorwater？Andwhydiditleaveitsnativehaunts。Wasitfrommisanthropy？Washeexpelledfromsomecommunityofspirits？"

Renouardessayedtorespondinthesametone。Thewordsdiedonhislips。Wasitamanorawomanghost，theprofessorinquired。

"Idon"tknow。"Renouardmadeanefforttoappearatease。Hehad，hesaid，acoupleofTahitianamongsthisboys-aghost-

riddenrace。Theyhadstartedthescare。Theyhadprobablybroughttheirghostwiththem。

"Letusinvestigatethematter，Renouard，"proposedtheprofessorhalfinearnest。"Wemaymakesomeinterestingdiscoveriesastothestateofprimitiveminds，atanyrate。"

Thiswastoomuch。Renouardjumpedupandleavingtheroomwentoutandwalkedaboutinfrontofthehouse。Hewouldallownoonetoforcehishand。Presentlytheprofessorjoinedhimoutside。Hecarriedhisparasol，buthadneitherhisbooknorhispipewithhim。Amiablyserioushelaidhishandonhis"dearyoungfriend"s"

arm。

"Weareallofusalittlestrungup，"hesaid。"FormypartI

havebeenlikesisterAnneinthestory。ButIcannotseeanythingcoming。Anythingthatwouldbetheleastgoodforanybody-I

mean。"

Renouardhadrecoveredsufficientlytomurmurcoldlyhisregretofthiswasteoftime。Forthatwaswhat，hesupposed，theprofessorhadinhismind。

"Time，"musedProfessorMoorsom。"Idon"tknowthattimecanbewasted。ButIwilltellyou，mydearfriend，whatthisis:itisanawfulwasteoflife。Imeanforallofus。Evenformysister，whohasgotaheadacheandisgonetoliedown。"

HeshookgentlyRenouard"sarm。"Yes，forallofus!Onemaymeditateonlifeendlessly，onemayevenhaveapooropinionofit-butthefactremainsthatwehaveonlyonelifetolive。Anditisshort。Thinkofthat，myyoungfriend。"

HereleasedRenouard"sarmandsteppedoutoftheshadeopeninghisparasol。Itwasclearthattherewassomethingmoreinhismindthanmereanxietyaboutthedateofhislecturesforfashionableaudiences。Whatdidthemanmeanbyhisconfoundedplatitudes？ToRenouard，scaredbyLuizinthemorning(forhefeltthatnothingcouldbemorefatalthantohavehisdeceptionunveiledotherwisethanbypersonalconfession)，thistalksoundedlikeencouragementorawarningfromthatmanwhoseemedtohimtobeverybrazenandverysubtle。Itwaslikebeingbulliedbythedeadandcajoledbythelivingintoathrowofdiceforasupremestake。

Renouardwentawaytosomedistancefromthehouseandthrewhimselfdownintheshadeofatree。Helaythereperfectlystillwithhisforeheadrestingonhisfoldedarms，light-headedandthinking。Itseemedtohimthathemustbeonfire，thenthathehadfallenintoacoolwhirlpool，asmoothfunnelofwaterswirlingaboutwithnauseatingrapidity。Andthen(itmusthavebeenareminiscenceofhisboyhood)hewaswalkingonthedangerousthiniceofariver，unabletoturnback……Suddenlyitpartedfromshoretoshorewithaloudcracklikethereportofagun。

Withoneleaphefoundhimselfonhisfeet。Allwaspeace，stillness，sunshine。Hewalkedawayfromthereslowly。Hadhebeenagamblerhewouldhaveperhapsbeensupportedinameasurebythemereexcitement。Buthewasnotagambler。Hehadalwaysdisdainedthatartificialmannerofchallengingthefates。Thebungalowcameintoview，brightandpretty，andallabouteverythingwaspeace，stillness，sunshine……

Whilehewasploddingtowardsithehadadisagreeablesenseofthedeadman"scompanyathiselbow。Theghost!Heseemedtobeeverywherebutinhisgrave。Couldoneevershakehimoff？hewondered。AtthatmomentMissMoorsomcameoutontheverandah；

andatonce，asifbyamysteryofradiatingwaves，sherousedagreattumultinhisheart，shookearthandskytogether-butheploddedon。Thenlikeagravesong-noteinthestormhervoicecametohimominously。

"Ah!Mr。Renouard……"Hecameupandsmiled，butshewasveryserious。"Ican"tkeepstillanylonger。Istheretimetowalkupthisheadlandandbackbeforedark？"

Theshadowswerelyinglengthenedontheground；allwasstillnessandpeace。"No，"saidRenouard，feelingsuddenlyassteadyasarock。"ButIcanshowyouaviewfromthecentralhillwhichyourfatherhasnotseen。Aviewofreefsandofbrokenwaterwithoutend，andofgreatwheelingcloudsofsea-birds。"

Shecamedowntheverandahstepsatonceandtheymovedoff。"Yougofirst，"heproposed，"andI"lldirectyou。Totheleft。"

Shewaswearingashortnankinskirt，amuslinblouse；hecouldseethroughthethinstufftheskinofhershoulders，ofherarms。Thenobledelicacyofherneckcausedhimasortoftransport。"Thepathbeginswherethesethreepalmsare。Theonlypalmsontheisland。"

"Isee。"

Sheneverturnedherhead。Afterawhilesheobserved:"Thispathlooksasifithadbeenmaderecently。"

"Quiterecently，"heassentedverylow。

Theywentonclimbingsteadilywithoutexchanginganotherword；andwhentheystoodonthetopshegazedalongtimebeforeher。Theloweveningmistveiledthefurtherlimitofthereefs。Abovetheenormousandmelancholyconfusion，asofafleetofwreckedislands，therestlessmyriadsofsea-birdsrolledandunrolleddarkribbonsonthesky，gatheredinclouds，soaredandstoopedlikeaplayofshadows，fortheyweretoofarforthemtoheartheircries。

Renouardbrokethesilenceinlowtones。

"They"llbesettlingforthenightpresently。"Shemadenosound。

Roundthemallwaspeaceanddecliningsunshine。Nearby，thetopmostpinnacleofMalata，resemblingthetopofaburiedtower，rosearock，weather-worn，grey，wearyofwatchingthemonotonouscenturiesofthePacific。Renouardleanedhisshouldersagainstit。FeliciaMoorsomfacedhimsuddenly，hersplendidblackeyesfullonhisfaceasthoughshehadmadeuphermindatlasttodestroyhiswitsonceandforall。Dazzled，heloweredhiseyelidsslowly。

"Mr。Renouard!Thereissomethingstrangeinallthis。Tellmewhereheis？"

Heanswereddeliberately。

"Ontheothersideofthisrock。Iburiedhimtheremyself。"

Shepressedherhandstoherbreast，struggledforherbreathforamoment，then:"Ohhh!……Youburiedhim!……Whatsortofmanareyou？……Youdarednottell!……Heisanotherofyourvictims？……Youdarednotconfessthatevening……Youmusthavekilledhim。Whatcouldhehavedonetoyou？……Youfastenedonhimsomeatrociousquarreland……"

Hervengefulaspect，herpoignantcrieslefthimasunmovedasthewearyrockagainstwhichheleaned。Heonlyraisedhiseyelidstolookatherandloweredthemslowly。Nothingmore。Itsilencedher。Andasifashamedshemadeagesturewithherhand，puttingawayfromherthatthought。Hespoke，quietlyironicatfirst。

"Ha!thelegendaryRenouardofsensitiveidiots-theruthlessadventurer-theogrewithafuture。Thatwasaparrotcry，MissMoorsom。Idon"tthinkthatthegreatestfoolofthemalleverdaredhintsuchastupidthingofmethatIkilledmenfornothing。

No，Ihadnoticedthismaninahotel。HehadcomefromupcountryIwastold，andwasdoingnothing。Isawhimsittingtherelonelyinacornerlikeasickcrow，andIwentoveroneeveningtotalktohim。Justonimpulse。Hewasn"timpressive。Hewaspitiful。

Myworstenemycouldhavetoldyouhewasn"tgoodenoughtobeoneofRenouard"svictims。Itdidn"ttakemelongtojudgethathewasdrugginghimself。Notdrinking。Drugs。"

"Ah!It"snowthatyouaretryingtomurderhim，"shecried。

"Really。AlwaystheRenouardofshopkeepers"legend。Listen!I

wouldneverhavebeenjealousofhim。AndyetIamjealousoftheairyoubreathe，ofthesoilyoutreadon，oftheworldthatseesyou-movingfree-notmine。Butnevermind。Iratherlikedhim。

ForacertainreasonIproposedheshouldcometobemyassistanthere。Hesaidhebelievedthiswouldsavehim。Itdidnotsavehimfromdeath。Itcametohimasitwerefromnothing-justafall。Amereslipandtumbleoftenfeetintoaravine。Butitseemshehadbeenhurtbeforeup-country-byahorse。Heailedandailed。No，hewasnotasteel-tippedman。Andhispoorsoulseemedtohavebeendamagedtoo。Itgavewayverysoon。"

"Thisistragic!"FeliciaMoorsomwhisperedwithfeeling。

Renouard"slipstwitched，buthislevelvoicecontinuedmercilessly。

"That"sthestory。Heralliedalittleonenightandsaidhewantedtotellmesomething。I，beingagentleman，hesaid，hecouldconfideinme。Itoldhimthathewasmistaken。Thattherewasagooddealofaplebeianinme，thathecouldn"tknow。Heseemeddisappointed。Hemutteredsomethingabouthisinnocenceandsomethingthatsoundedlikeacurseonsomewoman，thenturnedtothewalland-justgrewcold。"

"Onawoman，"criedMissMoorsomindignantly。"Whatwoman？"

"Iwonder!"saidRenouard，raisinghiseyesandnotingthecrimsonofherear-lobesagainstthelivewhitenessofhercomplexion，thesombre，asifsecret，night-splendourofhereyesunderthewrithingflamesofherhair。"Somewomanwhowouldn"tbelieveinthatpoorinnocenceofhis……Yes。Youprobably。Andnowyouwillnotbelieveinme-noteveninmewhomustintruthbewhatI

am-eventodeath。No!Youwon"t。Andyet，Felicia，awomanlikeyouandamanlikemedonotoftencometogetheronthisearth。"

Theflameofhergloriousheadscorchedhisface。Heflunghishatfaraway，andhissuddenlyloweredeyelidsbroughtoutstartlinglyhisresemblancetoantiquebronze，theprofileofPallas，still，austere，bowedalittleintheshadowoftherock。"Oh!Ifyoucouldonlyunderstandthetruththatisinme!"headded。

Shewaited，asiftooastoundedtospeak，tillhelookedupagain，andthenwithunnaturalforceasifdefendingherselffromsomeunspokenaspersion，"It"sIwhostandfortruthhere!Believeinyou!Inyou，whobyaheartlessfalsehood-andnothingelse，nothingelse，doyouhear？-havebroughtmehere，deceived，cheated，asinsomeabominablefarce!"Shesatdownonaboulder，restedherchininherhands，intheposeofsimplegrief-

mourningforherself。

"Itonlywantedthis。Why!Oh!Whyisitthatugliness，ridicule，andbasenessmustfallacrossmypath。"

Onthatheight，alonewiththesky，theyspoketoeachotherasiftheearthhadfallenawayfromundertheirfeet。

"Areyougrievingforyourdignity？Hewasamediocresoulandcouldhavegivenyoubutanunworthyexistence。"

Shedidnotevensmileatthosewords，but，superb，asifliftingacorneroftheveil，sheturnedonhimslowly。

"AnddoyouimagineIwouldhavedevotedmyselftohimforsuchapurpose!Don"tyouknowthatreparationwasduetohimfromme？A

sacreddebt-afineduty。Toredeemhimwouldnothavebeeninmypower-Iknowit。Buthewasblameless，anditwasformetocomeforward。Don"tyouseethatintheeyesoftheworldnothingcouldhaverehabilitatedhimsocompletelyashismarriagewithme？NowordofevilcouldbewhisperedofhimafterIhadgivenhimmyhand。Astogivingmyselfuptoanythinglessthantheshapingofaman"sdestiny-ifIthoughtIcoulddoitIwouldabhormyself……"Shespokewithauthorityinherdeepfascinating，unemotionalvoice。Renouardmeditated，gloomy，asifoversomesinisterriddleofabeautifulsphinxmetonthewildroadofhislife。

"Yes。Yourfatherwasright。Youareoneofthesearistocrats……"

Shedrewherselfuphaughtily。

"Whatdoyousay？Myfather!……Ianaristocrat。"

"Oh!Idon"tmeanthatyouarelikethemenandwomenofthetimeofarmours，castles，andgreatdeeds。Oh，no!Theystoodonthenakedsoil，hadtraditionstobefaithfulto，hadtheirfeetonthisearthofpassionsanddeathwhichisnotahothouse。Theywouldhavebeentooplebeianforyousincetheyhadtolead，tosufferwith，tounderstandthecommonesthumanity。No，youaremerelyofthetopmostlayer，disdainfulandsuperior，themerepurefrothandbubbleontheinscrutabledepthswhichsomedaywilltossyououtofexistence。Butyouareyou!Youareyou!Youaretheeternalloveitself-only，ODivinity，itisn"tyourbody，itisyoursoulthatismadeoffoam。"

Shelistenedasifinadream。Hehadsucceededsowellinhisefforttodrivebackthefloodofhispassionthathislifeitselfseemedtorunwithitoutofhisbody。Atthatmomenthefeltasonedeadspeaking。Buttheheadlongwavereturningwithtenfoldforceflunghimonhersuddenly，withopenarmsandblazingeyes。

Shefoundherselflikeafeatherinhisgrasp，helpless，unabletostruggle，withherfeetofftheground。Butthiscontactwithher，maddeningliketoomuchfelicity，destroyeditsownend。Fireranthroughhisveins，turnedhispassiontoashes，burnthimoutandlefthimempty，withoutforce-almostwithoutdesire。Helethergobeforeshecouldcryout。Andshewassousedtotheformsofrepressionenveloping，softeningthecrudeimpulsesofoldhumanitythatshenolongerbelievedintheirexistenceasifitwereanexplodedlegend。Shedidnotrecognisewhathadhappenedtoher。

Shecamesafeoutofhisarms，withoutastruggle，notevenhavingfeltafraid。

"What"sthemeaningofthis？"shesaid，outragedbutcalminascornfulway。

Hegotdownonhiskneesinsilence，bentlowtoherveryfeet，whileshelookeddownathim，alittlesurprised，withoutanimosity，asifmerelycurioustoseewhathewoulddo。Then，whileheremainedbowedtothegroundpressingthehemofherskirttohislips，shemadeaslightmovement。Hegotup。

"No，"hesaid。"WereyoueversomuchminewhatcouldIdowithyouwithoutyourconsent？No。Youdon"tconquerawraith，coldmist，stuffofdreams，illusion。Itmustcometoyouandclingtoyourbreast。Andthen!Oh!Andthen!"

Allecstasy，allexpressionwentoutofhisface。

"Mr。Renouard，"shesaid，"thoughyoucanhavenoclaimonmyconsiderationafterhavingdecoyedmehereforthevilepurpose，apparently，ofgloatingovermeasyourpossibleprey，IwilltellyouthatIamnotperhapstheextraordinarybeingyouthinkIam。

Youmaybelieveme。HereIstandfortruthitself。"

"What"sthattomewhatyouare？"heanswered。"AtasignfromyouIwouldclimbuptotheseventhheaventobringyoudowntoearthformyown-andifIsawyousteepedtothelipsinvice，incrime，inmud，Iwouldgoafteryou，takeyoutomyarms-wearyouforanincomparablejewelonmybreast。Andthat"slove-truelove-thegiftandthecurseofthegods。Thereisnoother。"

Thetruthvibratinginhisvoicemadeherrecoilslightly，forshewasnotfittohearit-notevenalittle-notevenonesingletimeinherlife。Itwasrevoltingtoher；andinhertrouble，perhapspromptedbythesuggestionofhisnameortosoftentheharshnessofexpression，forshewasobscurelymoved，shespoketohiminFrench。

"ASSEZ!J"AIHORREURDETOUTCELA，"shesaid。

Hewaswhitetohisverylips，buthewastremblingnomore。Thedicehadbeencast，andnotevenviolencecouldalterthethrow。

Shepassedbyhimunbendingly，andhefollowedherdownthepath。

Afteratimesheheardhimsaying:

"Andyourdreamistoinfluenceahumandestiny？"

"Yes!"sheansweredcurtly，unabashed，withawoman"scompleteassurance。

"Thenyoumayrestcontent。Youhavedoneit。"

Sheshruggedhershouldersslightly。Butjustbeforereachingtheendofthepathsherelented，stopped，andwentbacktohim。

"Idon"tsupposeyouareveryanxiousforpeopletoknowhownearyoucametoabsoluteturpitude。Youmayresteasyonthatpoint。

Ishallspeaktomyfather，ofcourse，andwewillagreetosaythathehasdied-nothingmore。"

"Yes，"saidRenouardinalifelessvoice。"Heisdead。Hisveryghostshallbedonewithpresently。"

Shewenton，butheremainedstandingstockstillinthedusk。Shehadalreadyreachedthethreepalmswhensheheardbehindheraloudpealoflaughter，cynicalandjoyless，suchasisheardinsmoking-roomsattheendofascandalousstory。Itmadeherfeelpositivelyfaintforamoment。

CHAPTERXI

SlowlyacompletedarknessenvelopedGeoffreyRenouard。Hisresolutionhadfailedhim。InsteadoffollowingFeliciaintothehouse，hehadstoppedunderthethreepalms，andleaningagainstasmoothtrunkhadabandonedhimselftoasenseofanimmensedeceptionandthefeelingofextremefatigue。Thiswalkupthehillanddownagainwaslikethesupremeeffortofanexplorertryingtopenetratetheinteriorofanunknowncountry，thesecretofwhichistoowelldefendedbyitscruelandbarrennature。

Decoyedbyamirage，hehadgonetoofar-sofarthattherewasnogoingback。Hisstrengthwasatanend。Forthefirsttimeinhislifehehadtogiveup，andwithasortofdespairingself-

possessionhetriedtounderstandthecauseofthedefeat。Hedidnotascribeittothatabsurddeadman。

ThehesitatingshadowofLuizapproachedhimunnoticedtillitspoketimidly。Renouardstarted。

"Eh？What？Dinnerwaiting？YoumustsayIbegtobeexcused。I

can"tcome。ButIshallseethemto-morrowmorning，atthelandingplace。Takeyourordersfromtheprofessorastothesailingoftheschooner。Gonow。"

Luiz，dumbfounded，retreatedintothedarkness。Renouarddidnotmove，buthoursafterwards，likethebitterfruitofhisimmobility，thewords:"Ihadnothingtooffertohervanity，"

camefromhislipsinthesilenceoftheisland。Anditwasthenonlythathestirred，onlytowearthenightoutinrestlesstrampingupanddownthevariouspathsoftheplantation。Luiz，whosesleepwasmadelightbytheconsciousnessofsomeimpendingchange，heardfootstepspassingbyhishut，thefirmtreadofthemaster；andturningonhismatsemittedafaintTse!Tse!Tse!ofdeepconcern。