Пробный камень
XIII
“Haven’tyouansweredthatyourself?”
“Answeredit?”
“Justnow—whenyoutoldmeyoudiditforme.”Shepausedamomentandthenwentonwithadeepeningnote—“IwouldhavespokenifIcouldhavehelpedyou.”
“Butyoumusthavedespisedme.”
“I’vetoldyouthatwouldhavebeensimpler.”
“Buthowcouldyougoonlikethis—hatingthemoney?”
“Iknewyouwouldspeakintime.Iwantedyou,first,tohateitasIdid.”
Hegazedatherwithakindofawe.“You’rewonderful,”hemurmured.“Butyoudon’tyetknowthedepthsI’vereached.”
Sheraisedanentreatinghand.“Idon’twantto!”
“You’reafraid,then,thatyou’llhateme?”
“No—butthatyou’llhateme.Letmeunderstandwithoutyourtellingme.”
“Youcan’t.It’stoobase.Ithoughtyoudidn’tcarebecauseyoulovedFlamel.”
Sheblusheddeeply.“Don’t—don’t—”shewarnedhim.
“Ihaven’ttherightto,youmean?”
“Imeanthatyou’llbesorry.”
Hestoodimploringlybeforeher.“Iwanttosaysomethingworse—somethingmoreoutrageous.Ifyoudon’tunderstandthisyou’llbeperfectlyjustifiedinorderingmeoutofthehouse.”
Sheansweredhimwithaglanceofdivination.“Ishallunderstand—butyou’llbesorry.”
“Imusttakemychanceofthat.”Hemovedawayandtossedthebooksaboutthetable.Thenheswungroundandfacedher.“DoesFlamelcareforyou?”heasked.
Herflushdeepened,butshestilllookedathimwithoutanger.“Whatwouldbetheuse?”shesaidwithanoteofsadness.
“Ah,Ididn’taskthat,”hepenitentlymurmured.
