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“Itistheapproachofsenility，“Mr。Sabinansweredher。“Iamanoldman，LadyMuriel！“
Sheshruggedhershoulders。
“YouarelikeUlysses，“shesaid。“Thegods，orratherthegoddesses，havehelpedyoutowardsimmortality。“
“Itis，“Mr。Sabinanswered，“themossdeliciouspieceofflatteryIhaveeverheard。“
“Calypso，“shemurmured，noddingtowardsLucille，“isbyyourside。“
“Really，“Mr。Sabininterrupted，“Imustprotest。LucilleandI
weremarriedbyamostrespectableEpiscopalianclergyman。Wehavedocumentaryevidence。Besides，ifLucilleisCalypso，whataboutPenelope？“
LadyCareysmiledthoughtfully。
“Ihavealwaysthought，“shesaid，“thatPenelopewasamyth。InyourcaseIshouldsaythatPeneloperepresentsareturntosanity-totheordinarywaysoflife。“
Mr。SabinandLucilleexchangedswiftglances。Heraisedhiseyebrows。
“Ourlittleidyll，“hesaid，“seemstobethesportandbuffetofeveryone。YouforgetthatIamoftheoldworld。Idonotunderstandmodernity。“
“Ulysses，“sheanswered，“wasoftheoldworld，yethewasawandererinmoresensesofthewordthanoneAndtherehavebeentimes-“
Hereyessoughthis。Heignoredabsolutelythesubtletyofmeaningwhichlurkedbeneaththeheavydroopingeyelids。
“Onetravelsthroughlife，“heanswered，“bydeviouspaths，andalittlewanderingintheflower-gardensbythewayisthelotofeveryone。Butwhenthejourneyisover，one’stasteforwanderinghasgone-well，UlyssesfinishedhisdaysatthehearthofPenelope。“
Sheroseandwalkedaway。Mr。Sabinsatstillandwatchedherasthoughlisteningtothesoftsweepofhergownuponthecarpet。
“Hatefulwoman！“Lucilleexclaimedlightly。“Tomakelove，andsuchlove，toone’slawfulhusbandbeforeone’sfaceisalittlecrude，don’tyouthink？“
Heshookhishead。
“Tooobvious，“heanswered。“SheisplayingthePrince’sgame。
Dearme，howinterestingthiswillbesoon。“
Shenodded。Afaintsmileofbitternesshadstolenintohertone。
“Already，“shesaid，“youarebeginningtoscentthedelightoftheatmosphere。Youarestiffeningforthefight。Soon-“
“Ah，no！Don’tsayit，“hewhispered，takingherhand。“Ishallneverforget。Ifthefightseemsgoodtomeitisbecauseyouaretheprize，andafterall，youknow，tofightforone’swomenkindisamongsttheprimevalinstincts。“
LadyCarey，whohadbeenpacingtheroomrestlessly，touchinganornamenthere，lookingatapicturethere，camebacktothemandstoodbeforeMr。Sabin。Shehadcaughthislastwords。
“Primevalinstincts！“sheexclaimedmockingly。“Whatdoyouknowaboutthem，youofallmen，abundleofnervesandbrains，withamotorforaheart，andanautomaticbrakeuponyourpassions？Uponmyword，IbelievethatIhavesolvedthemysteryofyourperennialyouth。Youhavefoundawayofsubstitutingmachineryforthehumanorgan，andyouarewounduptogoforever。“
“Youhavefoundmeout，“headmitted。“ProfessorPenningramofChicagowillsupplyyoutoowithanoutfit。Mentionmynameifyoulike。ItisawonderfulcountryAmerica。“
ThePrincecameovertothem，fairandblandwithnotraceuponhissmoothfeaturesorinhishalf-jestingtoneofanyevilthings。
“Souspennier，“hesaid，holdingouthishand，“welcomebackoncemoretoyouroldplace。Iamhappytosaythatthereappearstobenoreasonwhyyourclaimshouldnotbefullyadmitted。“
Mr。Sabinrosetohisfeet。
“Ipresume，“hesaid，“thatnove
