Поворот гвинта

           Scarceanythinginthewholehistoryseemstomesooddasthisfactthatmyrealbeginningoffearwasone,asImaysay,withtheinstinctofsparingmycompanion.Onthespot,accordingly,inthepleasanthallandwithhereyesonme,I,forareasonthatIcouldn’tthenhavephrased,achievedaninwardresolution—offeredavaguepretextformylatenessand,withthepleaofthebeautyofthenightandoftheheavydewandwetfeet,wentassoonaspossibletomyroom.

           Hereitwasanotheraffair;here,formanydaysafter,itwasaqueeraffairenough.Therewerehours,fromdaytoday—oratleastthereweremoments,snatchedevenfromclearduties—whenIhadtoshutmyselfuptothink.ItwasnotsomuchyetthatIwasmorenervousthanIcouldbeartobeasthatIwasremarkablyafraidofbecomingso;forthetruthIhadnowtoturnoverwas,simplyandclearly,thetruththatIcouldarriveatnoaccountwhateverofthevisitorwithwhomIhadbeensoinexplicablyandyet,asitseemedtome,sointimatelyconcerned.IttooklittletimetoseethatIcouldsoundwithoutformsofinquiryandwithoutexcitingremarkanydomesticcomplications.TheshockIhadsufferedmusthavesharpenedallmysenses;Ifeltsure,attheendofthreedaysandastheresultofmerecloserattention,thatIhadnotbeenpracticeduponbytheservantsnormadetheobjectofany“game.”OfwhateveritwasthatIknew,nothingwasknownaroundme.Therewasbutonesaneinference:someonehadtakenalibertyrathergross.