Yet, if she had been sent on such an errand, what reason could she have
had for going in secret, alone and without a word of farewell? He had
supposed it impossible that she could have kept anything from him; of
course there must eventually be separation. He had warned her of that.
And when it came he had expected scenes, tears and a frantic appeal.
That she should vanish in silence was inconceivable. Perhaps she had
not cared for him so much after all. In any case the episode had been
a charming one, and to him no woman could ever have been more than an
episode. He had shown her some of the many beautiful things and places
of the world, and by her own words he had made her happy. Now their
play time was over. He had his work and she hers. She had come into
his life as a piece of driftwood floats to shore on the edge of a wave,
and gone out of it as noiselessly.
Vladimir did not discuss his private affairs, so that among all the
conspirators Emile alone knew, and it was Emile alone who guessed the
truth.
CHAPTER XVII
"Tout passe, tout casse, tout lasse.
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