第131章

’Withpleasure，Monsieur。’

Thereuponthewomanwithdrewandlefthimtolookattheroom。Itwasthepatternofroomalwaystobefoundinsuchahouse。Cool，dull，anddark。Waxedfloorveryslippery。Aroomnotlargeenoughtoskatein；noradaptedtotheeasypursuitofanyotheroccupation。Redandwhitecurtainedwindows，littlestrawmat，littleroundtablewithatumultuousassemblageoflegsunderneath，clumsyrush-bottomedchairs，twogreatredvelvetarm-chairsaffordingplentyofspacetobeuncomfortablein，bureau，chimney-

glassinseveralpiecespretendingtobeinonepiece，pairofgaudyvasesofveryartificialflowers；betweenthemaGreekwarriorwithhishelmetoff，sacrificingaclocktotheGeniusofFrance。

Aftersomepause，adoorofcommunicationwithanotherroomwasopened，andaladyentered。ShemanifestedgreatsurpriseonseeingClennam，andherglancewentroundtheroominsearchofsomeoneelse。

’Pardonme，MissWade。Iamalone。’

’Itwasnotyournamethatwasbroughttome。’

’No；Iknowthat。Excuseme。Ihavealreadyhadexperiencethatmynamedoesnotpredisposeyoutoaninterview；andIventuredtomentionthenameofoneIaminsearchof。’

’Pray，’shereturned，motioninghimtoachairsocoldlythatheremainedstanding，’whatnamewasitthatyougave？’

’ImentionedthenameofBlandois。’

’Blandois？’

’Anameyouareacquaintedwith。’

’Itisstrange，’shesaid，frowning，’thatyoushouldstillpressanundesiredinterestinmeandmyacquaintances，inmeandmyaffairs，MrClennam。Idon’tknowwhatyoumean。’

’Pardonme。Youknowthename？’

’Whatcanyouhavetodowiththename？WhatcanIhavetodowiththename？Whatcanyouhavetodowithmyknowingornotknowinganyname？IknowmanynamesandIhaveforgottenmanymore。Thismaybeintheoneclass，oritmaybeintheother，orImayneverhaveheardit。Iamacquaintedwithnoreasonforexaminingmyself，orforbeingexamined，aboutit。’

’Ifyouwillallowme，’saidClennam，’Iwilltellyoumyreasonforpressingthesubject。IadmitthatIdopressit，andImustbegyoutoforgivemeifIdoso，veryearnestly。Thereasonisallmine，Idonotinsinuatethatitisinanywayyours。’

’Well，sir，’shereturned，repeatingalittlelesshaughtilythanbeforeherformerinvitationtohimtobeseated：towhichhenowdeferred，assheseatedherself。’Iamatleastgladtoknowthatthisisnotanotherbondswomanofsomefriendofyours，whoisbereftoffreechoice，andwhomIhavespiritedaway。Iwillhearyourreason，ifyouplease。’

’First，toidentifythepersonofwhomwespeak，’saidClennam，’letmeobservethatitisthepersonyoumetinLondonsometimeback。Youwillremembermeetinghimneartheriver——intheAdelphi!’

’Youmixyourselfmostunaccountablywithmybusiness，’shereplied，lookingfullathimwithsterndispleasure。’Howdoyouknowthat？’

’Ientreatyounottotakeitill。Bymereaccident。’

’Whataccident？’

’Solelytheaccidentofcominguponyouint