Пробный камень
XII
Theyweregivingalittledinnerthatnight,andwhenhecamedowntheguestswerearriving.Helookedathiswife:herbeautywasextraordinary,butitseemedtohimthebeautyofasmoothseaalonganunlitcoast.Shefrightenedhim.
Hesatlatethatnightinhisstudy.Heheardtheparlor-maidlockthefrontdoor;thenhiswifewentupstairsandthelightswereputout.Hisbrainwaslikesomegreatemptyhallwithanechoinit;onethoughtreverberatedendlessly....Atlengthhedrewhischairtothetableandbegantowrite.Headdressedanenvelopeandthenslowlyre-readwhathehadwritten.
“MydearFlamel,”
“Manyapologiesfornotsendingyousoonertheenclosedcheck,whichrepresentsthecustomarypercentageonthesaleoftheLetters.”
“Trustingyouwillexcusetheoversight,
“Yourstruly,
“StephenGlennard.”
Helethimselfoutofthedarkenedhouseanddroppedtheletterinthepost-boxatthecorner.
Thenextafternoonhewasdetainedlateathisoffice,andashewaspreparingtoleaveheheardsomeoneaskingforhimintheouterroom.HeseatedhimselfagainandFlamelwasshownin.
Thetwomen,asGlennardpushedasideanobstructivechair,hadamomenttomeasureeachother;thenFlameladvanced,anddrawingouthisnote-case,laidaslipofpaperonthedesk.
“Mydearfellow,whatonearthdoesthismean?”Glennardrecognizedhischeck.
“ThatIwasremiss,simply.Itoughttohavegonetoyoubefore.
