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The Egotist Becomes a Personage
peopleplungingblindlyinandthenrushingwildlyback,shoutingthattheyhadfoundit...theinvisibleking—theelanvital—theprincipleofevolution...writingabook,startingawar,foundingaschool....
Amory,evenhadhenotbeenaselfishman,wouldhavestartedallinquirieswithhimself.Hewashisownbestexample—sittingintherain,ahumancreatureofsexandpride,foiledbychanceandhisowntemperamentofthebalmofloveandchildren,preservedtohelpinbuildingupthelivingconsciousnessoftherace.
Inself-reproachandlonelinessanddisillusionhecametotheentranceofthelabyrinth.
Anotherdawnflungitselfacrosstheriver,abelatedtaxihurriedalongthestreet,itslampsstillshininglikeburningeyesinafacewhitefromanight’scarouse.Amelancholysirensoundedfardowntheriver.
MONSIGNOR
AmorykeptthinkinghowMonsignorwouldhaveenjoyedhisownfuneral.ItwasmagnificentlyCatholicandliturgical.BishopO’Neillsangsolemnhighmassandthecardinalgavethefinalabsolutions.ThorntonHancock,Mrs.Lawrence,theBritishandItalianambassadors,thepapaldelegate,andahostoffriendsandpriestswerethere—yettheinexorableshearshadcutthroughallthesethreadsthatMonsignorhadgatheredintohishands.ToAmoryitwasahauntinggrieftoseehimlyinginhiscoffin,withclosedhandsuponhispurplevestments.Hisfacehadnotchanged,and,asheneverknewhewasdying,itshowednopainorfear.
