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I placed the chair near him； and was about to take my seat in it；
when he sent me back again； on another errand； to the end of the
room。
〃Oblige me indescribably；〃 he said。 〃There is a hand…screen
hanging on the wall； which matches the chair。 We are rather near
the fire here。 You may find the screen useful。 Once more forgive
me for letting you fetch it for yourself。 Once more let me assure
you that I have a reason。〃
Here was his 〃reason；〃 reiterated； emphatically reiterated； for
the second time！ Curiosity made me as completely the obedient
servant of his caprices as Ariel herself。 I fetched the
hand…screen。 Returning with it； I met his eyes still fixed with
the same incomprehensible attention on my perfectly plain and
unpretending dress； and still expressing the same curious mixture
of interest and regret。
〃Thank you a thousand times；〃 he said。 〃You have （quite
innocently） wrung my heart。 But you have not the less done me an
inestimable kindness。 Will you promise not to be offended with me
if I confess the truth？〃
He was approaching his explanation I never gave a promise more
readily in my life。
〃I have rudely allowed you to fetch your chair and your screen
for yourself；〃 he went on。 〃My motive will seem a very strange
one； I am afraid。 Did you observe that I noticed you very
attentivelytoo attentively； perhaps？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said。 〃I thought you were noticing my dress。〃
He shook his head； and sighed bitterly。
〃Not your dress；〃 he said； 〃and not your face。 Your dress is
dark。 Your face is still strange to me。 Dear Mrs。 Valeria； I
wanted to see you walk。〃
To see me walk！ What did he mean？ Where was that erratic mind of
his wandering to now？
〃You have a rare accomplishment for an Englishwoman；〃 he
resumed〃you walk well。 _She_ walked well。 I couldn't resist the
temptation of seeing her again； in seeing you。 It was _her_
movement； _her_ sweet； simple； unsought grace （not yours）； when
you walked to the end of the room and returned to me。 You raised
her from the dead when you fetched the chair and the screen。
Pardon me for making use of you： the idea was innocent； the
motive was sacred。 You have distressedand delighted me。 My
heart bleedsand thanks you。〃
He paused for a moment； he let his head droop on his breast； then
suddenly raised it again。
〃Surely we were talking about her last night？〃 he said。 〃What did
I say？ what did you say？ My memory is confused； I half remember；
half forget。 Please remind me。 You're not offended with meare
you？〃
I might have been offended with another man。 Not with him。 I was
far too anxious to find my way into his confidencenow that he
had touched of his own accord on the subject of Eustace's first
wifeto be offended with Miserrimus Dexter。
〃We were speaking；〃 I answered； 〃of Mrs。 Eustace Macallan's
death； and we were saying to one another〃
He interrupted me； leaning forward eagerly in his chair。
〃Yes！ yes！〃 he exclaimed。 〃And I was wondering what interest
_you_ could have in penetrating the mystery of her death。 Tell
me！ Confide in me！ I am dying to know！〃
〃Not even you have a stronger interest in that subject than the
interest that I feel；〃 I said。 〃The happiness of my whole life to
come depends on my clearing up the mystery。〃
〃Good Godwhy？〃 he cried。 〃Stop！ I am exciting myself。 I mustn't
do that。 I must have all my wits about me； I mustn't wander。 The
thing is too serious。 Wait a minute！〃
An elegant little basket was hooked on to one of the arms of his
chair。 He opened it； and drew out a strip of embroidery partially
finished； with the necessary materials for working； a complete。
We looked at each other across the embroidery。 He noticed my
surprise。
〃Women；〃 he said； 〃wisely compose their minds； and help
themselves to think quietly； by doing needle…work。 Why are men
such fools as to deny themselves the same admirable resourcethe
simple and soothing occupation which keeps the nerves steady and
leaves the mind calm and free？ As a man； I follow the woman's
wise example。 Mrs。 Valeria； permit me to compose myself。〃
Gravely arranging his embroidery； this extraordinary being began
to work with the patient and nimble dexterity of an accomplished
needle…woman。
〃Now；〃 said Miserrimus Dexter； 〃if you are ready； I am。 You
talkI work。 Please begin。〃
I obeyed him； and began。
CHAPTER XXVIII。
IN THE DARK。
WITH such a man as Miserrimus Dexter； and with such a purpose as
I had in view； no half…confidences were possible。 I must either
risk the most unreserved acknowledgment of the interests that I
really had at stake； or I must make the best excuse that occurred
to me for abandoning my
contemplated experiment at the last moment。 In my present
critical situation； no such refuge as a middle course lay before
meeven if I had been inclined to take it。 As things were； I ran
risks； and plunged headlong into my own affairs at starting。
〃Thus far； you know little or nothing about me； Mr。 Dexter；〃 I
said。 〃You are； as I believe； quite unaware that my husband and I
are not living together at the present time。〃
〃Is it necessary to mention your husband？〃 he asked； coldly；
without looking up from his embroidery； and without pausing in
his work。
〃It is absolutely necessary；〃 I answered。 〃I can explain myself
to you in no other way。〃
He bent his head； and sighed resignedly。
〃You and your husband are not living together at the present
time；〃 he resumed。 〃Does that mean that Eustace has left you？〃
〃He has left me； and has gone abroad。〃
〃Without any necessity for it？〃
〃Without the least necessity。〃
〃Has he appointed no time for his return to you？〃
〃If he persevere in his present resolution； Mr。 Dexter； Eustace
will never return to me。〃
For the first time he raised his head from his embroiderywith a
sudden appearance of interest。
〃Is the quarrel so serious as that？〃 he asked。 〃Are you free of
each other； pretty Mrs。 Valeria； by common consent of both
parties？〃
The tone in which he put the question was not at all to my
liking。 The look he fixed on me was a look which unpleasantly
suggested that I had trusted myself alone with him； and that he
might end in taking advantage of it。 I reminded him quietly； by
my manner more than by my words； of the respect which he owed to
me。
〃You are entirely mistaken；〃 I said。 〃There is no angerthere is
not even a misunderstanding between us。 Our parting has cost
bitter sorrow； Mr。 Dexter； to him and to me。〃
He submitted to be set right with ironical resignation。 〃I am all
attention；〃 he said； threading his needle。 〃Pray go on； I won't
interrupt you again。〃 Acting on this invitation； I told him the
truth about my husband and myself quite unreservedly； taking
care； however； at the same time； to put Eustace's motives in the
best light that they would bear。 Miserrimus Dexter dropped his
embroidery on his lap； and laughed softly to himself； with an
impish enjoyment of my poor little narrative； which set every
nerve in me on edge as I looked at him。
〃I see nothing to laugh at；〃 I said； sharply。
His beautiful blue eyes rested on me with a look of innocent
surprise。
〃Nothing to laugh at；〃 he rep