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.He was a bad winner and a good loser.Those who think thatWWW.UDownloadBooks.Com 78 A Universal Download Editiona man betrays his character nowhere more clearly than when he is playing a game might onthis draw subtle inferences.When he had finished I called the waiter to pay for the drinks, and left them.Themeeting had been devoid of incident.No word had been said to give me anything to thinkabout, and any surmises I might make were unwarranted.I was intrigued.I could not tellhow they were getting on.I would have given much to be a disembodied spirit so that Icould see them in the privacy of the studio and hear what they talked about.I had not thesmallest indication on which to let my imagination work.Chapter XXXIIITwo or three days later Dirk Stroeve called on me."I hear you've seen Blanche," he said."How on earth did you find out?""I was told by someone who saw you sitting with them.Why didn't you tell me?""I thought it would only pain you.""What do I care if it does? You must know that I want to hear the smallest thingabout her."I waited for him to ask me questions."What does she look like?" he said."Absolutely unchanged.""Does she seem happy?"I shrugged my shoulders."How can I tell? We were in a cafe; we were playing chess; I had no opportunityto speak to her.""Oh, but couldn't you tell by her face?"I shook my head.I could only repeat that by no word, by no hinted gesture, hadshe given an indication of her feelings.He must know better than I how great were herpowers of self-control.He clasped his hands emotionally."Oh, I'm so frightened.I know something is going to happen, something terrible,and I can do nothing to stop it.""What sort of thing?" I asked."Oh, I don't know," he moaned, seizing his head with his hands."I foresee someterrible catastrophe."Stroeve had always been excitable, but now he was beside himself; there was noreasoning with him.I thought it probable enough that Blanche Stroeve would not continueto find life with Strickland tolerable, but one of the falsest of proverbs is that you must lieWWW.UDownloadBooks.Com 79 A Universal Download Editionon the bed that you have made.The experience of life shows that people are constantlydoing things which must lead to disaster, and yet by some chance manage to evade theresult of their folly.When Blanche quarrelled with Strickland she had only to leave him,and her husband was waiting humbly to forgive and forget.I was not prepared to feel anygreat sympathy for her."You see, you don't love her," said Stroeve."After all, there's nothing to prove that she is unhappy.For all we know they mayhave settled down into a most domestic couple."Stroeve gave me a look with his woeful eyes."Of course it doesn't much matter to you, but to me it's so serious, so intenselyserious."I was sorry if I had seemed impatient or flippant."Will you do something for me?" asked Stroeve."Willingly.""Will you write to Blanche for me?""Why can't you write yourself?""I've written over and over again.I didn't expect her to answer.I don't think shereads the letters.""You make no account of feminine curiosity.Do you think she could resist?""She could mine."I looked at him quickly.He lowered his eyes.That answer of his seemed to mestrangely humiliating.He was conscious that she regarded him with an indifference soprofound that the sight of his handwriting would have not the slightest effect on her."Do you really believe that she'll ever come back to you?" I asked."I want her to know that if the worst comes to the worst she can count on me.That's what I want you to tell her."I took a sheet of paper."What is it exactly you wish me to say?"This is what I wrote:DEAR MRS.STROEVE,Chapter XXXIVWWW.UDownloadBooks.Com 80 A Universal Download EditionBut though I was no less convinced than Stroeve that the connection betweenStrickland and Blanche would end disastrously, I did not expect the issue to take the tragicform it did.The summer came, breathless and sultry, and even at night there was nocoolness to rest one's jaded nerves.The sun-baked streets seemed to give back the heatthat had beat down on them during the day, and the passers-by dragged their feet alongthem wearily.I had not seen Strickland for weeks.Occupied with other things, I hadceased to think of him and his affairs.Dirk, with his vain lamentations, had begun to boreme, and I avoided his society.It was a sordid business, and I was not inclined to troublemyself with it further.One morning I was working.I sat in my Pyjamas.My thoughts wandered, and Ithought of the sunny beaches of Brittany and the freshness of the sea.By my side was theempty bowl in which the concierge had brought me my and the fragmentof croissant which I had not had appetite enough to eat.I heard the concierge in the nextroom emptying my bath.There was a tinkle at my bell, and I left her to open the door.In amoment I heard Stroeve's voice asking if I was in.Without moving, I shouted to him tocome.He entered the room quickly, and came up to the table at which I sat."She's killed herself," he said hoarsely."What do you mean?" I cried, startled.He made movements with his lips as though he were speaking, but no sound issuedfrom them.He gibbered like an idiot.My heart thumped against my ribs, and, I do notknow why, I flew into a temper."For God's sake, collect yourself, man," I said."What on earth are you talkingabout?"He made despairing gestures with his hands, but still no words came from hismouth.He might have been struck dumb.I do not know what came over me; I took himby the shoulders and shook him
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