lose quarters. I only look at it from here.
If I want to go to or from the yacht, I do so at night and in a closed
carriage. I took on de Vallorbes' box at the San Carlo. If any good
opera is given I go and hear it. Otherwise I remain exclusively in the
house and garden. I am not acquainted with a single soul in the place."

"And the woman," Helen exclaimed, a singular emotion at once of envy
and protest upon her. "Do you treat her with the same cold-blooded
calculation?"

"Of the woman I know just as much and just as little as I know of
Naples. It is conceivable there may be unlovely elements in her
character, as well as unlovely quarters of this beautiful city. I have
avoided knowledge of both. You see the whole arrangement is designed
not for her benefit, but for my own. It's an elaborate piece of
self-seeking on my part, but, so far, it has really worked rather
successfully."

"It is preposterous. It cannot in the nature of things continue
successful," Helen declared.

"I am not so sure of that," he replied calmly. "Even the most
preposterous of religious systems proves to have a remarkable power of
survival. Why not this one? In any case, neither the success nor the
failure depends on me. I shall be true, on my part. The rest depends on
her."

As Richard spoke he turned, leaning his back against the balustrade,
his face away from the sunlight and the wide view. Again the extent of
his deformity became arrestingly apparent to Madame de Vallorbes.

"Has this woman ever been here?" she asked.

"Yes--she has been here."

"And then? And then?" Helen cried.

The young man looked up at her, his face keen yet impassive, his
eyes--as windows opening on to endless perspective of empty
space--telling nothing. She recognised, once again, that he was very
strong. She also recognised that, notwithstanding his strength, he was
horribly sad.

"Ah! then," he said, "the last of the poor, little, subjective supports
and consolations seemed in danger of going overboard and joining their
fellows in the uneasy deeps of the sea.--But the history of that will
keep till a more convenient season, Cousin Helen. You have stood in the
midday sun, and I have talked about myself, quite long enough. However,
it was only fair to acquaint you with the limited resources in the way
of society and amusement offered by your present dwelling. There are
horses and carriages of course. Give what orders you please. Only
remember both the town