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The Supercilious Sacrifice
"Rosalind!Rosalind!"Hepouredthewordssoftlyintothehalf-darknessuntilsheseemedtopermeatetheroom;thewetsaltbreezefilledhishairwithmoisture,therimofamoonsearedtheskyandmadethecurtainsdimandghostly.Hefellasleep.
Whenheawokeitwasverylateandquiet.Theblankethadslippedpartlyoffhisshouldersandhetouchedhisskintofinditdampandcold.
Thenhebecameawareofatensewhisperingnottenfeetaway.
Hebecamerigid.
"Don’tmakeasound!"ItwasAlec’svoice."Jill—doyouhearme?"
"Yes—"breathedverylow,veryfrightened.Theywereinthebathroom.
Thenhisearscaughtaloudersoundfromsomewherealongthecorridoroutside.Itwasamumblingofmen’svoicesandarepeatedmuffledrapping.Amorythrewofftheblanketsandmovedclosetothebathroomdoor.
"MyGod!"camethegirl’svoiceagain."You’llhavetoletthemin."
"Sh!"
Suddenlyasteady,insistentknockingbeganatAmory’shalldoorandsimultaneouslyoutofthebathroomcameAlec,followedbythevermilion-lippedgirl.Theywerebothcladinpajamas.
"Amory!"ananxiouswhisper.
"What’sthetrouble?"
"It’shousedetectives.MyGod,Amory—they’rejustlookingforatest-case—"
"Well,betterletthemin."
"Youdon’tunderstand.TheycangetmeundertheMannAct."
Thegirlfollowedhimslowly,arathermiserable,patheticfigureinthedarkness.
Amorytriedtoplanquickly.
"Youmakearacketandlettheminyourroom,"hesuggestedanxiously,"andI’llgetheroutbythisdoor."