He was moreover interested in the unknown
woman.
If he had been told that she was Arithelli the circus-rider, who had
sat silently upon the deck of his yacht dressed in gaudy raiment, and
indifferent almost to stupidity, then his smile would have been
contemptuous instead of tolerant. He was interested too in the unknown
woman's champion. Something in Vardri's attitude of courteous defiance
appealed to him by the law that will attract strongly one man's mind to
another, diverse in every way. He could see that Vardri was plainly
consumptive, and that the disease was in its advanced stages. Even
with the aid of good food and an easier life he could not last more
than a year or two, so one might as well make things a little more
smooth for him during the time.
"I see you have the illusions of youth, my friend," he said carelessly.
"I trust they may remain long unbroken. Myself I am sorry to have
lived beyond the age when they content one. Sit down and talk to me."
He motioned Vardri towards a chair. "Well, since you have refused to
entertain my plan, we must think of something else.
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