Пробный камень
XII
Theblowhehadstruckhadbluntedtheedgeofhisanger,andtheunforeseenextentofthehurtinflicteddidnotalterthefactthathisweaponhadbrokeninhishands.HesawnowthathisrageagainstFlamelwasonlythelastprojectionofapassionateself-disgust.Thisconsciousnessdidnotdullhisdislikeoftheman;itsimplymadereprisalsineffectual.Flamel’sunwillingnesstoquarrelwithhimwasthelaststageofhisabasement.
Inthelightofthisfinalhumiliationhisassumptionofhiswife’sindifferencestruckhimashardlysofatuousasthesentimentalresuscitationofhispast.Hehadbeenlivinginafactitiousworldwhereinhisemotionswerethesycophantsofhisvanity,anditwaswithinstinctivereliefthathefeltitsruinscrashabouthishead.
Itwasnearlydarkwhenhelefthisoffice,andhewalkedslowlyhomewardinthecompletementalabeyancethatfollowsonsuchacrisis.Hewasnotawarethathewasthinkingofhiswife;yetwhenhereachedhisowndoorhefoundthat,intheinvoluntaryreadjustmentofhisvision,shehadoncemorebecomethecentralpointofconsciousness.
