It almost seemed that
Cartoner's silence was contagious.
He, for his part, went into the Faubourg and crossed to the river side
of that wide street. It thus happened that he missed seeing Mr. Joseph
Mangles, sunning himself upon the more frequented pavement, and smoking
a contemplative cigar. Mr. Mangles would have stopped him had they met.
Paul Deulin was not far behind Mr. Mangles, idling past the shops, which
could scarcely have had much interest for the Parisian.
"Ah!" said the Frenchman to himself, "there is our friend Reginald. He
is in one of his silent humors. I can see that from this distance."
He turned on the pavement and watched Cartoner, who was walking rather
slowly.
"If any woman ever marries that man," the Frenchman said to himself,
"she will have to allow a great deal to go without saying. But, then,
women are good at that."
And he continued his leisurely contemplation of the dull shop-windows.
Cartoner walked on to his rooms in the Jasna, where he found letters
awaiting him. He read them, and then sat down to write one which was
not an answer to any that he had received. He wrote it carefully and
thoughtfully, and when it was written sealed it.
Pages:
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133