XIII

           Ithadneverbeforeoccurredtohimthatshemight,afterall,havemissedthepurportofthedocumenthehadputinherway.Whatif,inherhurriedinspectionofthepapers,shehadpasseditoverasrelatedtotheprivatebusinessofsomeclient?What,forinstance,wastopreventherconcludingthatGlennardwasthecounseloftheunknownpersonwhohadsoldthe“AubynLetters.”Thesubjectwasonenotlikelytofixherattention—shewasnotacuriouswoman.

           Glennardatthispointlaiddownhisforkandglancedatherbetweenthecandle-shades.Thealternativeexplanationofherindifferencewasnotslowinpresentingitself.HerheadhadthesamelisteningdroopaswhenhehadcaughtsightofherthedaybeforeinFlamel’scompany;theattituderevivedthevividnessofhisimpression.Itwassimpleenough,afterall.Shehadceasedtocareforhimbecauseshecaredforsomeoneelse.

           Ashefollowedherupstairshefeltasuddenstirringofhisdormantanger.Hissentimentshadlostalltheirfactitiouscomplexity.Hehadalreadyacquittedherofanyconnivanceinhisbaseness,andhefeltonlythathelovedherandthatshehadescapedhim.Thiswasnow,strangelyenough,hisdominatingthought:theconsciousnessthatheandshehadpassedthroughthefusionofloveandhademergedfromitasincommunicablyapartasthoughthetransmutationhadnevertakenplace.Everyotherpassion,hemused,leftsomemarkuponthenature;butlovepassedliketheflightofashipacrossthewaters.