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business proved as unfruitful as everything he had put his hand
to since he had left Venice。 Thinkthink about what？ His
future seemed to him a negligible matter since he had received；
two months earlier； the few lines in which Susy had asked him
for her freedom。
The letter had been a shockthough he had fancied himself so
prepared for ityet it had also； in another sense； been a
relief； since； now that at last circumstances compelled him to
write to her； they also told him what to say。 And he had said it
as briefly and simply as possible； telling her that he would put
no obstacle in the way of her release； that he held himself at
her lawyer's disposal to answer any further communicationand
that he would never forget their days together； or cease to
bless her for them。
That was all。 He gave his Roman banker's address； and waited
for another letter； but none came。 Probably the 〃formalities；〃
whatever they were； took longer than he had supposed； and being
in no haste to recover his own liberty； he did not try to learn
the cause of the delay。 From that moment； however； he
considered himself virtually free； and ceased； by the same
token； to take any interest in his own future。 His life seemed
as flat as a convalescent's first days after the fever has
dropped。
The only thing he was sure of was that he was not going to
remain in the Hickses' employ： when they left Rome for Central
Asia he had no intention of accompanying them。 The part of Mr。
Buttles' successor was becoming daily more intolerable to him；
for the very reasons that had probably made it most gratifying
to Mr。 Buttles。 To be treated by Mr。 and Mrs。 Hicks as a paid
oracle； a paraded and petted piece of property； was a good deal
more distasteful than he could have imagined any relation with
these kindly people could be。 And since their aspirations had
become frankly social he found his task； if easier； yet far less
congenial than during his first months with them。 He preferred
patiently explaining to Mrs。 Hicks； for the hundredth time； that
Sassanian and Saracenic were not interchangeable terms； to
unravelling for her the genealogies of her titled guests； and
reminding her； when she 〃seated〃 her dinner…parties； that Dukes
ranked higher than Princes。 Nothe job was decidedly
intolerable； and he would have to look out for another means of
earning his living。 But that was not what he had really got
away to think about。 He knew he should never starve； he had
even begun to believe again in his book。 What he wanted to
think of was Susyor rather； it was Susy that he could not help
thinking of； on whatever train of thought he set out。
Again and again he fancied he had established a truce with the
past： had come to termsthe terms of defeat and failure with
that bright enemy called happiness。 And； in truth； he had
reached the point of definitely knowing that he could never
return to the kind of life that he and Susy had embarked on。 It
had been the tragedy； of their relation that loving her roused
in him ideals she could never satisfy。 He had fallen in love
with her because she was； like himself； amused； unprejudiced and
disenchanted； and he could not go on loving her unless she
ceased to be all these things。 From that circle there was no
issue； and in it he desperately revolved。
If he had not heard such persistent rumours of her re…marriage
to Lord Altringham he might have tried to see her again； but；
aware of the danger and the hopelessness of a meeting； he was；
on the whole； glad to have a reason for avoiding it。 Such； at
least； he honestly supposed to be his state of mind until he
found himself； as on this occasion； free to follow out his
thought to its end。 That end； invariably； was Susy； not the
bundle of qualities and defects into which his critical spirit
had tried to sort her out； but the soft blur of identity； of
personality； of eyes； hair； mouth； laugh； tricks of speech and
gesture； that were all so solely and profoundly her own； and yet
so mysteriously independent of what she might do； say； think； in
crucial circumstances。 He remembered her once saying to him：
〃After all； you were right when you wanted me to be your
mistress；〃 and the indignant stare of incredulity with which he
had answered her。 Yet in these hours it was the palpable image
of her that clung closest； till； as invariably happened； his
vision came full circle； and feeling her on his breast he wanted
her also in his soul。
Wellsuch all…encompassing loves were the rarest of human
experiences； he smiled at his presumption in wanting no other。
Wearily he turned； and tramped homeward through the winter
twilight 。。。。
At the door of the hotel he ran across the Prince of Teutoburg's
aide…de…camp。 They had not met for some days； and Nick had a
vague feeling that if the Prince's matrimonial designs took
definite shape he himself was not likely； after all； to be their
chosen exponent。 He had surprised； now and then； a certain
distrustful coldness under the Princess Mother's cordial glance；
and had concluded that she perhaps suspected him of being an
obstacle to her son's aspirations。 He had no idea of playing
that part； but was not sorry to appear to； for he was sincerely
attached to Coral Hicks； and hoped for her a more human fate
than that of becoming Prince Anastasius's consort。
This evening； however； he was struck by the beaming alacrity of
the aide…de…camp's greeting。 Whatever cloud had hung between
them had lifted： the Teutoburg clan； for one reason or another；
no longer feared or distrusted him。 The change was conveyed in
a mere hand…pressure； a brief exchange of words； for the aide…
de…camp was hastening after a well…known dowager of the old
Roman world； whom he helped into a large coronetted brougham
which looked as if it had been extracted； for some ceremonial
purpose； from a museum of historic vehicles。 And in an instant
it flashed on Lansing that this lady had been the person chosen
to lay the Prince's offer at Miss Hicks's feet。
The discovery piqued him； and instead of making straight for his
own room he went up to Mrs。 Hicks's drawing…room。
The room was empty； but traces of elaborate tea pervaded it； and
an immense bouquet of stiff roses lay on the centre table。 As
he turned away； Eldorada Tooker； flushed and tear…stained；
abruptly entered。
〃Oh； Mr。 Lansingwe were looking everywhere for you。〃
〃Looking for me？〃
〃Yes。 Coral especially 。。。 she wants to see you。 She wants you
to come to her own sitting…room。〃
She led him across the ante…chamber and down the passage to the
separate suite which Miss Hicks inhabited。 On the threshold
Eldorada gasped out emotionally： 〃You'll find her looking
lovely〃 and jerked away with a sob as he entered。
Coral Hicks was never lovely： but she certainly looked
unusually handsome。 Perhaps it was the long dress of black
velvet which； outlined a