Пробний камінь
IX
Hehadrisen,butAlexaremainedseated;andtheirattitudegavetheimpressionofacolloquythathadprolongeditselfbeyondthelimitsofspeech.BothturnedasurprisedeyeonGlennardandhehadthesenseofwalkingintoaroomgrownsuddenlyempty,asthoughtheirthoughtswereconspiratorsdispersedbyhisapproach.Hefelttheclutchofhisoldfear.WhatifhiswifehadalreadysortedthepapersandhadtoldFlamelofherdiscovery?Well,itwasnonewstoFlamelthatGlennardwasinreceiptofaroyaltyonthe“AubynLetters.”...
AsuddenresolvetoknowtheworstmadehimlifthiseyestohiswifeasthedoorclosedonFlamel.ButAlexahadrisenalso,andbendingoverherwriting-table,withherbacktoGlennard,wasbeginningtospeakprecipitately.
“I’mdiningoutto-night—youdon’tmindmydesertingyou?JuliaArmigersentmewordjustnowthatshehadanextraticketforthelastAmbroseconcert.Shetoldmetosayhowsorryshewasthatshehadn’ttwo—butIknewyouwouldn’tbesorry!”SheendedwithalaughthathadtheeffectofbeingastrayedechoofMrs.Armiger’s;andbeforeGlennardcouldspeakshehadadded,withherhandonthedoor,“Mr.FlamelstayedsolatethatI’vehardlytimetodress.Theconcertbeginsridiculouslyearly,andJuliadinesathalf-pastseven—”
Glennardstoodaloneintheemptyroomthatseemedsomehowfullofanironicalconsciousnessofwhatwashappening.“Shehatesme,”hemurmured.“Shehatesme....”
ThenextdaywasSunday,andGlennardpurposelylingeredlateinhisroom.
