Пробный камень

XII

           Glennard’scabadvancedslowly,andasheleanedback,gazingwithabsentintentnessatthedesertedpathsthatwoundunderbareboughsbetweengrassbanksofprematurevividness,hisattentionwasarrestedbytwofigureswalkingaheadofhim.Thiscouple,whohadthepathtothemselves,movedatanunevenpace,asthoughadaptingtheirgaittoaconversationmarkedbymeditativeintervals.Nowandthentheypaused,andinoneofthesepausesthelady,turningtowardhercompanion,showedGlennardtheoutlineofhiswife’sprofile.ThemanwasFlamel.

           ThebloodrushedtoGlennard’sforehead.Hesatupwithajerkandpushedbackthelidintheroofofthehansom;butwhenthecabmanbentdownhedroppedintohisseatwithoutspeaking.Then,becomingconsciousoftheprolongedinterrogationoftheliftedlid,hecalledout—“Turn—driveback—anywhere—I’minahurry—”

           Asthecabswungroundhecaughtalastglimpseofthetwofigures.Theyhadnotmoved;Alexa,withbenthead,stoodlistening.

           “MyGod,myGod—”hegroaned.

           Itwashideous—itwasabominable—hecouldnotunderstandit.Thewomanwasnothingtohim—lessthannothing—yetthebloodhummedinhisearsandhungacloudbeforehim.Heknewitwasonlythestirringoftheprimalinstinct,thatithadnomoretodowithhisreasoningselfthananyrefleximpulseofthebody;butthatmerelyloweredanguishtodisgust.Yes,itwasdisgusthefelt—almostaphysicalnausea.Thepoisonousfumesoflifewereinhislungs.Hewassick,unutterablysick....

           Hedrovehomeandwenttohisroom.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 87 из 107