Пробный камень

VII

           It’shorrible,it’sdegradingalmost,toreadthesecretsofawomanonemighthaveknown.”Sheadded,inalowertone,“Stephendidknowher—”

           “Didhe?”camefromFlamel.

           “Heknewherverywell,atHillbridge,yearsago.Thebookhasmadehimfeeldreadfully...hewouldn’treadit...hedidn’twantmetoreadit.Ididn’tunderstandatfirst,butnowIcanseehowhorriblydisloyalitmustseemtohim.It’ssomuchworsetosurpriseafriend’ssecretsthanastranger’s.”

           “Oh,Glennard’ssuchasensitivechap,”Flamelsaid,easily;andAlexaalmostrebukinglyrejoined,“Ifyou’dknownherI’msureyou’dfeelashedoes....”

           Glennardstoodmotionless,overcomebythesingularinfelicitywithwhichhehadcontrivedtoputFlamelinpossessionofthetwopointsmostdamagingtohiscase:thefactthathehadbeenafriendofMargaretAubyn’s,andthathehadconcealedfromAlexahisshareinthepublicationoftheletters.ToamanoflessthanFlamel’sastutenessitmustnowbecleartowhomtheletterswereaddressed;andthepossibilityoncesuggested,nothingcouldbeeasierthantoconfirmitbydiscreetresearch.Animpulseofself-accusaldroveGlennardtothewindow.WhynotanticipatebetrayalbytellinghiswifethetruthinFlamel’spresence?Ifthemanhadadropofdecentfeelinginhim,suchacoursewouldbethesurestmeansofsecuringhissilence;andaboveall,itwouldridGlennardofthenecessityofdefendinghimselfagainsttheperpetualcriticismofhiswife’sbeliefinhim...

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