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Updated: May 23, 2025
He paused excitedly, and in the pause Loder found resolution. He shut his ears to the panic in Chilcote's voice, he closed his consciousness to the sight of his shaken face. With a surge of determination he rallied his theories. After all, he had himself and his own interests to claim his thought.
You've settled the first part of the business, but the cold has still to be reckoned with. Drink the tea. I've something to say to you." He mastered his vehemence, and, walking to the window, stood looking down into the court. His eyes were blank, his face hard; his ears heard nothing but the faint sound of Chilcote's swallowing, the click of the cup against his teeth.
Again and again the suggestion had arisen that should the smouldering fire in Persia break into a flame, Chilcote's commercial interests would facilitate, would practically compel, his standing in in the campaign against the government. The little incident of the tea-table, recalling the social side of his obligations, had aroused the realization of greater things.
The difference lay neither in feature, in coloring, nor in height, but in that baffling, illusive inner illumination that some call individuality, and others soul. Something of this idea, misted and tangled by nervous imagination, crossed Chilcote's mind in that moment of scrutiny, but he shrank from it apprehensively.
If Lady Astrupp had recognized Chilcote by the rings, and had been roused to curiosity, the incident would demand settlement sooner or later settlement in what proportion he could hazard no guess; if, on the other hand, her obvious change of manner had arisen from any other source he had a hazy idea that a woman's behavior could never be gauged by accepted theories then he had safeguarded Chilcote's interests and his own by his securing of Blessington's promise.
He stopped, fired by his own logic. The future might be Chilcote's but the present was his; and this present with its immeasurable possibilities had been rescued from catastrophe. "No," he said, again. "When you get your proof perhaps we'll have another talk; but till then " "Till then?" She looked up quickly; but almost at once her question died away.
A pleasant sense of retrospection settled upon him as he slowly undressed; and a pleasant sense of interest touched him as, crossing to the dressing-table, he caught sight of Chilcote's engagement-book taken with other things from the suit he had changed at dinner-time and carefully laid aside by Renwick. He picked it up and slowly turned the pages.
Blowing out the flame, Loder picked up the teapot, and with hands that were evidently accustomed to the task set about making the tea. During the whole operation he never spoke, though all the while he was fully conscious of Chilcote's puzzled gaze. The tea ready, he poured it into the cup and carried it across the room. "Drink this!" he said, laconically. "The fire will be up presently."
He turned again to the window and gazed out, the engagement book still between his hands. What if he compelled her respect? What if by his own personality cloaked under Chilcote's identity he forced her to admit his capability? It was a matter of pride, after all scarcely even of pride; self-respect was a better word. Satisfied by his own reasoning, he turned back into the room.
He was not hurt by his rebuff; rather, by an interesting sequence of impressions, he was stirred by it. The pride that had refused Chilcote's help, and the self-control that had refused it graciously, moved him to admiration. He understood and appreciated both by the light of person experience. "The carriage is waiting, sir," Crapham's voice broke in. Loder nodded, and Eve turned to her maid.
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