seemed spellbound by the interest of the narrative. Heyst did not pause
long. He managed to continue his relation smoothly enough, beginning
afresh with a piece of comment.

"He would have lied impudently--and I detest being told a lie. It makes
me uncomfortable. It's pretty clear that I am not fitted for the affairs
of the wide world. But I did not want him to think that I accepted his
presence too meekly, so I said that his comings or goings on the
earth were none of my business, of course, except that I had a natural
curiosity to know when he would find it convenient to resume them.

"He asked me to look at the state he was in. Had I been all alone here,
as they think I am, I should have laughed at him. But not being alone--I
say, Lena, you are sure you haven't shown yourself where you could be
seen?"

"Certain," she said promptly.

He looked relieved.

"You understand, Lena, that when I ask you to keep so strictly out of
sight, it is because you are not for them to look at--to talk about. My
poor Lena! I can't help that feeling. Do you understand it?"

She moved her head slightly in a manner that was neither affirmative nor
negative.

"People will have to see me some day," she said.

"I wonder how long it will be possible for you to keep out of sight?"
murmured Heyst thoughtfully. He bent over the table. "Let me finish
telling you. I asked him point blank what it was he wanted with me; he
appeared extremely unwilling to come to the point. It was not really
so pressing as all that, he said. His secretary, who was in fact his
partner, was not present, having gone down to the wharf to look at
their boat. Finally the fellow proposed that he should put off a certain
communication he had to make till the day after tomorrow. I agreed;
but I also told him that I was not at all anxious to hear it. I had no
conception in what way his affairs could concern me.

"'Ah, Mr. Heyst,' he said, 'you and I have much more in common than you
think.'"

Heyst struck the table with his fist unexpectedly.

"It was a jeer; I am sure it was!"

He seemed ashamed of this outburst and smiled faintly into the
motionless eyes of the girl.

"What could I have done--even if I had had my pockets full of
revolvers?"

She made an appreciative sign.

"Killing's a sin, sure enough," she murmured.

"I went away," Heyst continued. "I left him there, lying on his side
with his eyes shut. When I got back here, I found you looking ill.