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Breckenridge in her wake 。。。。
Nick had relived this rapid scene hundreds of times during his
hours in the train and his aimless trampings through the streets
of Genoa。 In that squirrel…wheel of a world of his and Susy's
you had to keep going or drop outand Susy； it was evident； had
chosen to keep going。 Under the lamp…flare on the landing he
had had a good look at her face； and had seen that the mask of
paint and powder was carefully enough adjusted to hide any
ravages the scene between them might have left。 He even fancied
that she had dropped a little atropine into her eyes 。。。。
There was no time to spare if he meant to catch the midnight
train； and no gondola in sight but that which his wife had just
left。 He sprang into it； and bade the gondolier carry him to
the station。 The cushions； as he leaned back； gave out a breath
of her scent； and in the glare of electric light at the station
he saw at his feet a rose which had fallen from her dress。 He
ground his heel into it as he got out。
There it was； then； that was the last picture he was to have of
her。 For he knew now that he was not going back； at least not
to take up their life together。 He supposed he should have to
see her once； to talk things over； settle something for their
future。 He had been sincere in saying that he bore her no ill…
will； only he could never go back into that slough again。 If he
did； he knew he would inevitably be drawn under； slipping
downward from concession to concession 。。。。
The noises of a hot summer night in the port of Genoa would have
kept the most care…free from slumber； but though Nick lay awake
he did not notice them； for the tumult in his brain was more
deafening。 Dawn brought a negative relief； and out of sheer
weariness he dropped into a heavy sleep。 When he woke it was
nearly noon； and from his window he saw the well…known outline
of the Ibis standing up dark against the glitter of the harbour。
He had no fear of meeting her owners； who had doubtless long
since landed and betaken themselves to cooler and more
fashionable regions： oddly enough； the fact seemed to
accentuate his loneliness； his sense of having no one on earth
to turn to。 He dressed； and wandered out disconsolately to pick
up a cup of coffee in some shady corner。
As he drank his coffee his thoughts gradually cleared。 It
became obvious to him that he had behaved like a madman or a
petulant childhe preferred to think it was like a madman。 If
he and Susy were to separate there was no reason why it should
not be done decently and quietly； as such transactions were
habitually managed among people of their kind。 It seemed
grotesque to introduce melodrama into their little world of
unruffled Sybarites； and he felt inclined； now； to smile at the
incongruity of his gesture 。。。。 But suddenly his eyes filled
with tears。 The future without Susy was unbearable；
inconceivable。 Why； after all； should they separate？ At the
question； her soft face seemed close to his； and that slight
lift of the upper lip that made her smile so exquisite。 Well…
he would go back。 But not with any presence of going to talk
things over； come to an agreement； wind up their joint life like
a business association。 Noif he went back he would go without
conditions； for good； forever 。。。。
Only； what about the future？ What about the not far…distant day
when the wedding cheques would have been spent； and Granny's
pearls sold； and nothing left except unconcealed and
unconditional dependence on rich friends； the role of the
acknowledged hangers…on？ Was there no other possible solution；
no new way of ordering their lives？ Nothere was none： he
could not picture Susy out of her setting of luxury and leisure；
could not picture either of them living such a life as the Nat
Fulmers； for instance！ He remembered the shabby untidy bungalow
in New Hampshire； the slatternly servants； uneatable food and
ubiquitous children。 How could he ask Susy to share such a life
with him？ If he did； she would probably have the sense to
refuse。 Their alliance had been based on a moment's midsummer
madness； now the score must be paid 。。。。
He decided to write。 If they were to part he could not trust
himself to see her。 He called a waiter； asked for pen and
paper； and pushed aside a pile of unread newspapers on the
corner of the table where his coffee had been served。 As he did
so； his eye lit on a Daily Mail of two days before。 As a
pretext for postponing his letter； he took up the paper and
glanced down the first page。 He read：
〃Tragic Yachting Accident in the Solent。 The Earl of Altringham
and his son Viscount d'Amblay drowned in midnight collision。
Both bodies recovered。〃
He read on。 He grasped the fact that the disaster had happened
the night before he had left Venice and that； as the result of a
fog in the Solent； their old friend Strefford was now Earl of
Altringham； and possessor of one of the largest private fortunes
in England。 It was vertiginous to think of their old
impecunious Streff as the hero of such an adventure。 And what
irony in that double turn of the wheel which； in one day； had
plunged him； Nick Lansing； into nethermost misery； while it
tossed the other to the stars！
With an intenser precision he saw again Susy's descent from the
gondola at the calle steps； the sound of her laughter and of
Strefford's chaff； the way she had caught his arm and clung to
it； sweeping the other men on in her train。 StreffordSusy and
Strefford！ 。。。 More than once； Nick had noticed the softer
inflections of his friend's voice when he spoke to Susy； the
brooding look in his lazy eyes when they rested on her。 In the
security of his wedded bliss Nick had made light of those signs。
The only real jealousy he had felt had been of Fred Gillow；
because of his unlimited power to satisfy a woman's whims。 Yet
Nick knew that such material advantages would never again
suffice for Susy。 With Strefford it was different。 She had
delighted in his society while he was notoriously ineligible；
might not she find him irresistible now？
The forgotten terms of their bridal compact came back to Nick：
the absurd agreement on which he and Susy had solemnly pledged
their faith。 But was it so absurd； after all？ It had been
Susy's suggestion （not his； thank God！）； and perhaps in making
it she had been more serious than he imagined。 Perhaps； even if
their rupture had not occurred； Strefford's sudden honours might
have caused her to ask for her freedom 。。。。
Money； luxury； fashion； pleasure： those were the four
cornerstones of her existence。 He had always known itshe
herself had always acknowledged it； even in their last dreadful
talk together； and once he had gloried in her frankness。 How
could he ever have imagined that； to have her fill of these
things； she would not in time stoop lower than she had yet
stooped？ Perhaps in giving her up to