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The Supercilious Sacrifice
"They’reheretoo,though.They’llwatchthisdoor."
"Can’tyougiveawrongname?"
"Nochance.Iregisteredundermyownname;besides,they’dtrailtheautolicensenumber."
"Sayyou’remarried."
"Jillsaysoneofthehousedetectivesknowsher."
Thegirlhadstolentothebedandtumbleduponit;laytherelisteningwretchedlytotheknockingwhichhadgrowngraduallytoapounding.Thencameaman’svoice,angryandimperative:
"Openuporwe’llbreakthedoorin!"
InthesilencewhenthisvoiceceasedAmoryrealizedthattherewereotherthingsintheroombesidespeople...overandaroundthefigurecrouchedonthebedtherehunganaura,gossamerasamoonbeam,taintedasstale,weakwine,yetahorror,diffusivelybroodingalreadyoverthethreeofthem...andoverbythewindowamongthestirringcurtainsstoodsomethingelse,featurelessandindistinguishable,yetstrangelyfamiliar....SimultaneouslytwogreatcasespresentedthemselvessidebysidetoAmory;allthattookplaceinhismind,then,occupiedinactualtimelessthantenseconds.
Thefirstfactthatflashedradiantlyonhiscomprehensionwasthegreatimpersonalityofsacrifice—heperceivedthatwhatwecallloveandhate,rewardandpunishment,hadnomoretodowithitthanthedateofthemonth.
