Wherewasthatthing？Shefeltsurethattheyhadnotmovedaninchfromthatspot。PresentlyherfootfounditandstillgrippingLingard’sforearmshestoopedtosecureitproperly。
Whenshestoodup，stillholdinghisarm，theyconfrontedeachother，herigidinaneffortofself—commandbutfeelingasifthesurgesoftheheaviestseathathecouldrememberinhislifewererunningthroughhisheart；andthewomanasifemptiedofallfeelingbyherexperience，withoutthoughtyet，butbeginningtoregainhersenseofthesituationandthememoryoftheimmediatepast。
\"Ihavebeenwatchingatthatloopholeforanhour，eversincetheycamerunningtomewiththatstoryoftherockets，\"saidLingard。\"IwasshutupwithBelarabthen。Iwaslookingoutwhenthetorchblazedandyousteppedashore。IthoughtIwasdreaming。ButwhatcouldIdo？IfeltImustrushtoyoubutI
darednot。Thatclumpofpalmsisfullofmen。Soarethehousesyousawthattimeyoucameashorewithme。Fullofmen。Armedmen。Atriggerissoonpulledandwhenonceshootingbegins……Andyouwalkingintheopenwiththatlightaboveyourhead！I
didn’tdare。Youweresaferalone。Ihadthestrengthtoholdmyselfinandwatchyoucomeupfromtheshore。No！Nomanthateverlivedhadseensuchasight。Whatdidyoucomefor？\"
\"Didn’tyouexpectsomebody？Idon’tmeanme，Imeanamessenger？\"
\"No！\"saidLingard，wonderingathisownself—control。\"Whydidheletyoucome？\"
\"YoumeanCaptainJorgenson？Oh，herefusedatfirst。Hesaidthathehadyourorders。\"
\"Howonearthdidyoumanagetogetroundhim？\"saidLingardinhissoftesttones。
\"Ididnottry，\"shebeganandcheckedherself。Lingard’squestion，thoughhereallydidn’tseemtocaremuchaboutananswer，hadarousedafreshhersuspicionofJorgenson’schangeoffront。\"Ididn’thavetosayverymuchatthelast，\"shecontinued，gaspingyetalittleandfeelingherpersonality，crushedtonothinginthehugofthosearms，expandagaintoitsfullsignificancebeforetheattentiveimmobilityofthatman。
\"CaptainJorgensonhasalwayslookeduponmeasanuisance。
Perhapshehadmadeuphismindtogetridofmeevenagainstyourorders。Ishequitesane？\"
ShereleasedherfirmholdofthatironforearmwhichfellslowlybyLingard’sside。Shehadregainedfullythepossessionofherpersonality。Thereremainedonlyafading，slightlybreathlessimpressionofashortflightabovethatearthonwhichherfeetwerefirmlyplantednow。\"Andisthatall？\"sheaskedherself，notbitterly，butwithasortoftendercontempt。
\"Heissosane，\"soundedLingard’svoice，gloomily，\"thatifI
hadlistenedtohimyouwouldnothavefoundmehere。\"
\"Whatdoyoumeanbyhere？Inthisstockade？\"
\"Anywhere，\"hesaid。
\"Andwhatwouldhavehappenedthen？\"
\"Godknows，\"heanswered。\"Whatwouldhavehappenediftheworldhadnotbeenmadeinsevendays？Ihaveknownyouforjustaboutthattime。Itbeganbymecomingtoyouatnight——likeathiefinthenight。WherethedevildidIhearthat？AndthatmanyouaremarriedtothinksIamnobetterthanathief。\"
\"ItoughttobeenoughforyouthatInevermadeamistakeastowhatyouare，thatIcometoyouinlessthantwenty—fourhoursafteryouleftmecontemptuouslytomydistress。Don’tpretendyoudidn’thearmecallafteryou。Oh，yes，youheard。ThewholeshipheardmeforIhadnoshame。\"
\"Yes，youcame，\"saidLingard，violently。\"Buthaveyoureallycome？Ican’tbelievemyeyes！Areyoureallyhere？\"
\"Thisisadarkspot，luckily，\"saidMrs。Travers。\"Butcanyoureallyhaveanydoubt？\"sheadded，significantly。
Hemadeasuddenmovementtowardher，betrayingsomuchpassionthatMrs。Traversthought，\"Ishan’tcomeoutalivethistime，\"
andyethewasthere，motionlessbeforeher，asthoughhehadneverstirred。Itwasmoreasthoughtheearthhadmadeasuddenmovementunderhisfeetwithoutbeingabletodestroyhisbalance。ButtheearthunderMrs。Travers’feethadmadenomovementandforasecondshewasoverwhelmedbywondernotatthisproofofherownself—possessionbutattheman’simmensepoweroverhimself。Ifithadnotbeenforherstrangeinwardexhaustionshewouldperhapshavesurrenderedtothatpower。Butitseemedtoherthatshehadnothinginherworthsurrendering，anditwasinaperfectlyeventonethatshesaid，\"Givemeyourarm，CaptainLingard。Wecan’tstayallnightonthisspot。\"
Astheymovedonshethought，\"Thereisrealgreatnessinthatman。\"Hewasgreateveninhisbehaviour。Noapologies，noexplanations，noabasement，noviolence，andnoteventheslightesttremoroftheframeholdingthatboldandperplexedsoul。SheknewthatforcertainbecauseherfingerswererestinglightlyonLingard’sarmwhileshewalkedslowlybyhissideasthoughheweretakingherdowntodinner。Andyetshecouldn’tsupposeforamoment，that，likeherself，hewasemptiedofallemotion。Sheneverbeforewassoawareofhimasadangerousforce。\"Heisreallyruthless，\"shethought。Theyhadjustlefttheshadowoftheinnerdefencesaboutthegatewhenaslightlyhoarse，apologeticvoicewasheardbehindthemrepeatinginsistently，whatevenMrs。Travers’eardetectedtobeasortofformula。Thewordswere：\"Thereisthisthing——thereisthisthing——thereisthisthing。\"Theyturnedround。
\"Oh，myscarf，\"saidMrs。Travers。
Ashort，squat，broad—facedyoungfellowhavingforallcostumeapairofwhitedrawerswasofferingthescarfthrownoverbothhisarms，asiftheyhadbeensticks，andholdingitrespectfullyasfaraspossiblefromhisperson。LingardtookitfromhimandMrs。Traversclaimeditatonce。\"Don’tforgettheproprieties，\"
shesaid。\"Thisisalsomyfaceveil。\"
ShewasarrangingitaboutherheadwhenLingardsaid，\"Thereisnoneed。Iamtakingyoutothosegentlemen。\"——\"Iwilluseitallthesame，\"saidMrs。Travers。\"Thisthingworksbothways，asamatterofproprietyorasamatterofprecaution。TillIhaveanopportunityoflookingintoamirrornothingwillpersuademethatthereisn’tsomechangeinmyface。\"Lingardswunghalfroundandgazeddownather。Veilednowsheconfrontedhimboldly。\"Tellme，CaptainLingard，howmanyeyeswerelookingatusalittlewhileago？\"
\"Doyoucare？\"heasked。
\"Notintheleast，\"shesaid。\"Amillionstarswerelookingon，too，andwhatdiditmatter？TheywerenotoftheworldIknow。
Andit’sjustthesamewiththeeyes。TheyarenotoftheworldI
livein。\"
Lingardthought：\"Nobodyis。\"Neverbeforehadsheseemedtohimmoreunapproachable，moredifferentandmoreremote。Theglowofanumberofsmallfireslightedthegroundonly，andbroughtouttheblackbulkofmenlyingdowninthethindriftofsmoke。Onlyoneofthesefires，ratherapartandburninginfrontofthehousewhichwasthequarteroftheprisoners，mighthavebeencalledablazeandeventhatwasnotagreatone。Itdidn’tpenetratethedarkspacebetweenthepilesandthedepthoftheverandahabovewhereonlyacoupleofheadsandtheglintofaspearheadcouldbeseendimlyintheplayofthelight。Butdownonthegroundoutside，theblackshapeofamanseatedonabenchhadanintenserelief。Anotherintenselyblackshadowthrewahandfulofbrushwoodonthefireandwentaway。Themanonthebenchgotup。Itwasd’Alcacer。HeletLingardandMrs。Traverscomequitecloseuptohim。Extremesurpriseseemedtohavemadehimdumb。
\"Youdidn’texpect……\"beganMrs。Traverswithsomeembarrassmentbeforethatmuteattitude。
\"Idoubtedmyeyes，\"struckind’Alcacer，whoseemedembarrassed，too。Nextmomentherecoveredhistoneandconfessedsimply：\"AtthemomentIwasn’tthinkingofyou，Mrs。Travers。\"Hepassedhishandoverhisforehead。\"IhardlyknowwhatIwasthinkingof。\"
Inthelightoftheshooting—upflameMrs。Traverscouldseed’Alcacer’sface。Therewasnosmileonit。Shecouldnotremembereverseeinghimsograveand，asitwere，sodistant。
SheabandonedLingard’sarmandmovedclosertothefire。
\"Ifancyyouwereveryfaraway，Mr。d’Alcacer，\"shesaid。
\"Thisisthesortoffreedomofwhichnothingcandepriveus，\"heobserved，lookinghardatthemannerinwhichthescarfwasdrawnacrossMrs。Travers’face。\"It’spossibleIwasfaraway，\"hewenton，\"butIcanassureyouthatIdon’tknowwhereIwas。
Lessthananhouragowehadagreatexcitementhereaboutsomerockets，butIdidn’tshareinit。TherewasnooneIcouldaskaquestionof。Thecaptainherewas，Iunderstood，engagedinamostmomentousconversationwiththekingorthegovernorofthisplace。\"
HeaddressedLingard，directly。\"MayIaskwhetheryouhavereachedanyconclusionasyet？ThatMoorisaverydilatoryperson，Ibelieve。\"
\"Anydirectattackhewould，ofcourse，resist，\"saidLingard。
\"And，sofar，youareprotected。ButImustadmitthatheisratherangrywithme。He’stiredofthewholebusiness。Helovespeaceaboveanythingintheworld。ButIhaven’tfinishedwithhimyet。\"
\"AsfarasIunderstoodfromwhatyoutoldmebefore，\"saidMr。
d’Alcacer，withaquicksideglanceatMrs。Travers’uncoveredandattentiveeyes，\"asfarasIcanseehemaygetallthepeacehewantsatoncebydrivingustwo，ImeanMr。Traversandmyself，outofthegateontothespearsofthoseotherenragedbarbarians。AndtherearesomeofhiscounsellorswhoadvisehimtodothatverythingnolaterthanthebreakofdayI
understand。\"
Lingardstoodforamomentperfectlymotionless。
\"That’saboutit，\"hesaidinanunemotionaltone，andwentawaywithaheavystepwithoutgivinganotherlookatd’AlcacerandMrs。Travers，whoafteramomentfacedeachother。
\"Youhaveheard？\"saidd’Alcacer。\"Ofcoursethatdoesn’taffectyourfateinanyway，andastohimheismuchtooprestigioustobekilledlight—heartedly。Whenallthisisoveryouwillwalktriumphantlyonhisarmoutofthisstockade；forthereisnothinginallthistoaffecthisgreatness，hisabsolutevalueintheeyesofthosepeople——andindeedinanyothereyes。\"
D’AlcacerkepthisglanceavertedfromMrs。Traversandassoonashehadfinishedspeakingbusiedhimselfindraggingthebenchalittlewayfurtherfromthefire。WhentheysatdownonithekepthisdistancefromMrs。Travers。Shemadenosignofunveilingherselfandhereyeswithoutafaceseemedtohimstrangelyunknownanddisquieting。
\"Thesituationinanutshell，\"shesaid。\"Youhavearrangeditallbeautifully，eventomytriumphalexit。Well，andwhatthen？
No，youneedn’tanswer，ithasnointerest。IassureyouIcameherenotwithanynotionofmarchingoutintriumph，asyoucallit。Icamehere，tospeakinthemostvulgarway，tosaveyourskin——andmine。\"
Hervoicecamemuffledtod’Alcacer’searswithachangedcharacter，eventotheveryintonation。Abovethewhiteandembroideredscarfhereyesinthefirelighttransfixedhim，blackandsosteadythateventheredsparksofthereflectedglaredidnotmoveinthem。Heconcealedthestrongimpressionshemade。Hebowedhisheadalittle。
\"Ibelieveyouknowperfectlywellwhatyouaredoing。\"
\"No！Idon’tknow，\"shesaid，morequicklythanhehadeverheardherspeakbefore。\"Firstofall，Idon’tthinkheissosafeasyouimagine。Oh，yes，hehasprestigeenough，Idon’tquestionthat。Butyouareapportioninglifeanddeathwithtoomuchassurance……\"
\"Iknowmyportion，\"murmuredd’Alcacer，gently。AmomentofsilencefellinwhichMrs。Travers’eyesendedbyintimidatingd’Alcacer，wholookedaway。Theflameofthefirehadsunklow。
Inthedarkagglomerationofbuildings，whichmighthavebeencalledBelarab’spalace，therewasacertainanimation，aflittingofpeople，voicescallingandanswering，thepassingtoandfrooflightsthatwouldilluminatesuddenlyaheavypile，thecornerofahouse，theeavesofalow—pitchedroof，whileintheopenpartsofthestockadethearmedmensleptbytheexpiringfires。
Mrs。Traverssaid，suddenly，\"ThatJorgensonisnotfriendlytous。\"
\"Possibly。\"
Withclaspedhandsandleaningoverhiskneesd’Alcacerhadassentedinaverylowtone。Mrs。Travers，unobserved，pressedherhandstoherbreastandfelttheshapeofthering，thick，heavy，setwithabigstone。Itwasthere，secret，hungagainstherheart，andenigmatic。Whatdiditmean？Whatcoulditmean？
Whatwasthefeelingitcouldarouseortheactionitcouldprovoke？AndshethoughtwithcompunctionthatsheoughttohavegivenittoLingardatonce，withoutthinking，withouthesitating。\"There！ThisiswhatIcamefor。Togiveyouthis。\"
Yes，buttherehadcomeanintervalwhenshehadbeenabletothinkofnothing，andsincethenshehadhadthetimetoreflect——unfortunately。TorememberJorgenson’shostile，contemptuousglanceenvelopingherfromheadtofootatthebreakofadayafteranightoflonelyanguish。Andnowwhileshesatthereveiledfromhiskeensighttherewasthatotherman，thatd’Alcacer，prophesying。Oyes，triumphant。Sheknewalreadywhatthatwas。Mrs。Traversbecameafraidofthering。Shefeltreadytopluckitfromherneckandcastitaway。
\"Imistrusthim，\"shesaid。——\"Youdo！\"exclaimedd’Alcacer，verylow。——\"ImeanthatJorgenson。Heseemsamercilesssortofcreature。\"——\"Heisindifferenttoeverything，\"saidd’Alcacer。——\"Itmaybeamask。\"——\"Haveyousomeevidence，Mrs。
Travers？\"
\"No，\"saidMrs。Traverswithouthesitation。\"Ihavemyinstinct。\"
D’Alcacerremainedsilentforawhileasthoughhewerepursuinganothertrainofthoughtaltogether，theninagentle，almostplayfultone：\"IfIwereawoman，\"hesaid，turningtoMrs。
Travers，\"Iwouldalwaystrustmyintuition。\"——\"Ifyouwereawoman，Mr。d’Alcacer，IwouldnotbespeakingtoyouinthiswaybecausethenIwouldbesuspecttoyou。\"
Thethoughtthatbeforelongperhapshewouldbeneithermannorwomanbutalumpofcoldclay，crossedd’Alcacer’smind，whichwasliving，alert，andunsubduedbythedanger。HehadwelcomedthearrivalofMrs。Traverssimplybecausehehadbeenverylonelyinthatstockade，Mr。Travershavingfallenintoaphaseofsulkscomplicatedwithshiveringfits。OfLingardd’Alcacerhadseenalmostnothingsincetheyhadlanded，fortheManofFatewasextremelybusynegotiatingintherecessesofBelarab’smainhut；andthethoughtthathislifewasbeingamatterofarduousbargainingwasnotagreeabletoMr。d’Alcacer。TheChief’sdependentsandthearmedmengarrisoningthestockadepaidverylittleattentiontohimapparently，andthisgavehimthefeelingofhiscaptivitybeingveryperfectandhopeless。
Duringtheafternoon，whilepacingtoandfrointhebitofshadethrownbytheglorifiedsortofhutinsidewhichMr。Traversshiveredandsulkedmisanthropically，hehadbeenawareofthemoredistantverandahsbecomingfillednowandthenbythemuffledformsofwomenofBelarab’shouseholdtakingadistantandcuriousviewofthewhiteman。Allthiswasirksome。Hefoundhismenacedlifeextremelydifficulttogetthrough。Yes，hewelcomedthearrivalofMrs。Traverswhobroughtwithheratragicnoteintotheemptygloom。
\"Suspicionisnotinmynature，Mrs。Travers，Iassureyou，andI
hopethatyouonyoursidewillneversuspecteithermyreserveormyfrankness。Irespectthemysteriousnatureofyourconvictionbuthasn’tJorgensongivenyousomeoccasionto……
\"
\"Hehatesme，\"saidMrs。Travers，andfrownedatd’Alcacer’sincipientsmile。\"Itisn’tadelusiononmypart。Theworstisthathehatesmenotformyself。Ibelieveheiscompletelyindifferenttomyexistence。JorgensonhatesmebecauseasitwereIrepresentyoutwowhoareindanger，becauseitisyoutwothatarethetroubleandI……Well！\"
\"Yes，yes，that’scertain，\"saidd’Alcacer，hastily。\"ButJorgensoniswronginmakingyouthescapegoat。ForifyouwerenotherecoolreasonwouldstepinandwouldmakeLingardpauseinhispassiontomakeakingoutofanexile。IfweweremurdereditwouldcertainlymakesomestirintheworldintimeandhewouldfallunderthesuspicionofcomplicitywiththosewildandinhumanMoors。Whowouldregardthegreatnessofhisday—dreams，hisengagedhonour，hischivalrousfeelings？Nothingcouldsavehimfromthatsuspicion。Andbeingwhatheis，youunderstandme，Mrs。Travers（butyouknowhimmuchbetterthanI
do），itwouldmorallykillhim。\"
\"Heavens！\"whisperedMrs。Travers。\"Thishasneveroccurredtome。\"Thosewordsseemedtolosethemselvesinthefoldsofthescarfwithoutreachingd’Alcacer，whocontinuedinhisgentletone：
’\"However，asitis，hewillbesafeenoughwhateverhappens。Hewillhaveyourtestimonytoclearhim。\"
Mrs。Traversstoodup，suddenly，butstillcarefultokeepherfacecovered，shethrewtheendofthescarfoverhershoulder。
\"IfearthatJorgenson，\"shecriedwithsuppressedpassion。\"Onecan’tunderstandwhatthatmanmeanstodo。IthinkhimsodangerousthatifIwere，forinstance，entrustedwithamessagebearingonthesituation，Iwould……suppressit。\"
D’Alcacerwaslookingupfromtheseat，fullofwonder。Mrs。
Traversappealedtohiminacalmvoicethroughthefoldsofthescarf：
\"Tellme，Mr。d’Alcacer，youwhocanlookonitcalmly，wouldn’tIberight？\"
\"Why，hasJorgensontoldyouanything？\"
\"Directly——nothing，exceptaphraseortwowhichreallyIcouldnotunderstand。Theyseemedtohaveahiddensenseandheappearedtoattachsomemysteriousimportancetothemthathedarednotexplaintome。\"
\"Thatwasariskonhispart，\"exclaimedd’Alcacer。\"Andhetrustedyou。Whyyou，Iwonder！\"
\"Whocantellwhatnotionshehasinhishead？Mr。d’Alcacer，I
believehisonlyobjectistocallCaptainLingardawayfromus。
Iunderstooditonlyafewminutesago。Ithasdawneduponme。
Allhewantsistocallhimoff。\"
\"Callhimoff，\"repeatedd’Alcacer，alittlebewilderedbythearousedfireofherconviction。\"IamsureIdon’twanthimcalledoffanymorethanyoudo；and，frankly，Idon’tbelieveJorgensonhasanysuchpower。Butuponthewhole，andifyoufeelthatJorgensonhasthepower，Iwould——yes，ifIwereinyourplaceIthinkIwouldsuppressanythingIcouldnotunderstand。\"
Mrs。Traverslistenedtotheveryend。Hereyes——theyappearedincrediblysombretod’Alcacer——seemedtowatchthefallofeverydeliberatewordandafterhehadceasedtheyremainedstillforanappreciabletime。Thensheturnedawaywithagesturethatseemedtosay：\"Sobeit。\"
D’Alcacerraisedhisvoicesuddenlyafterher。\"Stay！Don’tforgetthatnotonlyyourhusband’sbutmyhead，too，isbeingplayedatthatgame。Myjudgmentisnot……\"
Shestoppedforamomentandfreedherlips。Intheprofoundstillnessofthecourtyardherclearvoicemadetheshadowsatthenearestfiresstiralittlewithlowmurmursofsurprise。
\"Oh，yes，IrememberwhoseheadsIhavetosave，\"shecried。\"Butinalltheworldwhoistheretosavethatmanfromhimself？\"
V
D’Alcacersatdownonthebenchagain。\"Iwonderwhatsheknows，\"
hethought，\"andIwonderwhatIhavedone。\"HewonderedalsohowfarhehadbeensincereandhowfaraffectedbyaverynaturalaversionfrombeingmurderedobscurelybyferociousMoorswithallthecircumstancesofbarbarity。Itwasaverynakeddeathtocomeupononesuddenly。Itwasrobbedofallhelpfulillusions，suchasthefreewillofasuicide，theheroismofawarrior，ortheexaltationofamartyr。\"Hadn’tIbettermakesomesortoffightofit？\"hedebatedwithhimself。Hesawhimselfrushingatthenakedspearswithoutanyenthusiasm。Orwouldn’titbebettertogoforthtomeethisdoom（somewhereoutsidethestockadeonthathorriblebeach）withcalmdignity。\"Pah！Ishallbeprobablyspearedthroughthebackinthebeastliestpossiblefashion，\"hethoughtwithaninwardshudder。Itwascertainlynotashudderoffear，forMr。d’Alcacerattachednohighvaluetolife。ItwasashudderofdisgustbecauseMr。d’Alcacerwasacivilizedmanandthoughhehadnoillusionsaboutcivilizationhecouldnotbutadmitthesuperiorityofitsmethods。Itofferedtooneacertainrefinementofform，acomelinessofproceedingsanddefinitesafeguardsagainstdeadlysurprises。\"Howidleallthisis，\"hethought，finally。Hisnextthoughtwasthatwomenwereveryresourceful。Itwastrue，hewentonmeditatingwithunwontedcynicism，thatstrictlyspeakingtheyhadonlyoneresourcebut，generally，itserved——itserved。
Hewassurprisedbyhissupremelyshamelessbitternessatthisjuncture。Itwassouncalledfor。Thissituationwastoocomplicatedtobeentrustedtoacynicalorshamelesshope。Therewasnothingtotrustto。AtthismomentofhismeditationhebecameawareofLingard’sapproach。Heraisedhisheadeagerly。
D’AlcacerwasnotindifferenttohisfateandeventoMr。
Travers’fate。Hewouldfainlearn……ButonelookatLingard’sfacewasenough。\"It’snouseaskinghimanything，\"hesaidtohimself，\"forhecaresfornothingjustnow。\"
Lingardsatdownheavilyontheotherendofthebench，andd’Alcacer，lookingathisprofile，confessedtohimselfthatthiswasthemostmasculinelygood—lookingfacehehadeverseeninhislife。Itwasanexpressiveface，too，butitspresentexpressionwasalsobeyondd’Alcacer’spastexperience。Atthesametimeitsquietnesssetupabarrieragainstcommoncuriositiesandevencommonfears。No，itwasnouseaskinghimanything。Yetsomethingshouldbesaidtobreakthespell，tocalldownagainthismantotheearth。ButitwasLingardwhospokefirst。\"WherehasMrs。Traversgone？\"
\"Shehasgone……wherenaturallyshewouldbeanxioustogofirstofallsinceshehasmanagedtocometous，\"answeredd’Alcacer，wordinghisanswerwiththeutmostregardforthedelicacyofthesituation。
ThestillnessofLingardseemedtohavegrownevenmoreimpressive。Hespokeagain。
\"Iwonderwhatthosetwocanhavetosaytoeachother。\"
Hemighthavebeenaskingthatofthewholedarkenedpartoftheglobe，butitwasd’Alcacerwhoansweredinhiscourteoustones。
\"Woulditsurpriseyouverymuch，CaptainLingard，ifIweretotellyouthatthosetwopeoplearequitefittounderstandeachotherthoroughly？Yes？Itsurprisesyou！Well，Iassureyouthatseventhousandmilesfromherenobodywouldwonder。\"
\"IthinkIunderstand，\"saidLingard，\"butdon’tyouknowthemanislight—headed？Amanlikethatisasgoodasmad。\"
\"Yes，hehadbeenslightlydelirioussinceseveno’clock，\"saidd’Alcacer。\"Butbelieveme，CaptainLingard，\"hecontinued，earnestly，andobeyingaperfectlydisinterestedimpulse，\"thateveninhisdeliriumheisfarmoreunderstandabletoherandbetterabletounderstandherthan……anybodywithinahundredmilesfromhere。\"
\"Ah！\"saidLingardwithoutanyemotion，\"soyoudon’twonder。Youdon’tseeanyreasonforwonder。\"
\"No，for，don’tyousee，Idoknow。\"
\"Whatdoyouknow？\"
\"Menandwomen，CaptainLingard，whichyou……\"
\"Idon’tknowanywoman。\"
\"Youhavespokenthestrictesttruththere，\"saidd’Alcacer，andforthefirsttimeLingardturnedhisheadslowlyandlookedathisneighbouronthebench。
\"Doyouthinksheisasgoodasmad，too？\"askedLingardinastartledvoice。
D’Alcacerletescapealowexclamation。No，certainlyhedidnotthinkso。Itwasanoriginalnotiontosupposethatlunaticshadasortofcommonlogicwhichmadethemunderstandabletoeachother。D’Alcacertriedtomakehisvoiceasgentleaspossiblewhilehepursued：\"No，CaptainLingard，Ibelievethewomanofwhomwespeakisandwillalwaysremaininthefullestpossessionofherself。\"