There is theroad of knowledge and the road of
illusion, and Arbuthnot haschosen the second.
He gave me a glass of brandy and tucked me into a
taxi.
Then you strike, andwhat happens to the other
two?
I thought her voice had a trace of alarm
init.
There was no film orblearing to mar their glory. I
think he was satisfiedthat he had got someone who would serve him body and
soul.
Imay have to be out of London myself a good deal
this summer. If Ihad only comprehended that tongue I might there and then
havelearned all I wanted to know. The place proved to be about as hard to get intoas
the Vatican.
I must not ask, but Id give my head to know how and
where youreworking.
So did what followed, for he wenton:By midsummer
they liquidate and disband.
I knew thathis public repute was false, but I had
no worse crime to accuse himof than vanity. Only I had hithertobeen immune from
influenza.
For all the restof that day I felt cheap, and in
the evening I was positive I had atemperature. Trust me, allwill go smoothly, and
then we begin a new life. The West has the tools, but not thescience of their use. I
found it out in the process of hunting forthe hostages, and I give you my word its
correct.
Ill tell youall about it soon, but meantime you
must take my word for it. As my eyes passed from her they fell on another figure
that seemedfamiliar. He flattered me grossly, and I drank it all inwith a silly
face. Kharáma is in Europeand proposes to come to England. We paid five shillings
apiece for a liqueur, found a table and tooknotice of the show.
Kharáma is in Europeand proposes to come to
England.
I havelived in the East and know something of its
ways.
He admitted that he had thought of getting back to
Scotland towatch a pair of nesting greenshanks.
That night I had another of Sandys communications,
a typed half-sheet with a Paris postmark.
I realised that it was the most wonderful face of a
woman I hadever looked on. I had thought the thing out, and had resolved to keep the
Medinabusiness to myself and Sandy.
Only I had hithertobeen immune from
influenza.
Suddenly I felt that handlaid on my head, and I
recognised her now by touch as well asvoice. There has never been a true marriage of
East and West, he wenton. He cannot remember, for his mind is now in my keeping. He
put up an arm and drew her head to his. I realised that it was the most wonderful
face of a woman I hadever looked on. If you have fresh lines on what youcall my
gang, it may be desperately important for me to know.
I was drinking this in with both ears, and
murmuring my assent. Find out by which boat he takes a passage, andbook me a berth
in it also.