Page:The King in Yellow (1895).djvu/195

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THE STREET OF THE FIRST SHELL.
183

lamp, and when he had lighted it and had taken his hat to go, she jumped up and clung to him in silence. After a moment he said: “Now, Sylvia, remember my courage is sustained by yours. Come, I must go!” She did not move and he repeated: “I must go.” Then she stepped back and he thought she was going to speak and waited, but she only looked at him, and, a little impatiently, he kissed her again, saying: “Don’t worry, dearest.”

When he had reached the last flight of stairs on his way to the street a woman hobbled out of the housekeeper’s lodge waving a letter and calling: “Monsieur Jack! Monsieur Jack! this was left by Monsieur Fallowby!”

He took the letter, and leaning on the threshold of the lodge, read it:

Dear Jack,

“I believe Braith is dead broke and I’m sure Fallowby is. Braith swears he isn’t, and Fallowby swears he is, so you can draw your own conclusions. I’ve got a scheme for a dinner, and if it works, I will let you fellows in.

“Yours faithfully,

West.

“P, S.—Fallowby has shaken Hartman and his gang, thank the Lord! There is something rotten there,—or it may be he’s only a miser.

“P, P. S.—I’m more desperately in love than ever, but I’m sure she does not care a straw for me.”

“All right,” said Trent, with a smile, to