Evening star., 1933-03-30
INSTALLMENT v.

cited. 1t was of little use to
command himself to be quiet, to
i think calmly.
II must be alone with Sybil.
That Is the important pOint-to talk
to her alone and without interruption,
as long as needs be. I must tell her
everything, listen to everything she has
to say so that the truth, the whole
inward truth, may come to light. Then
everything will be decided"
What are you looking for, sir?" A
uniformed page stood in front of him.
At first Thomas did not grasp what
was said, then he mentioned the con-
sulting room. This way, please!" the
lad said and ran ahead. Thomas fol-
lowed him mechanically.
She must screw up her courage for
this discussion" he told himself She
must give me the chance to tell her
everything, to open her eyes, to make
clear to her what evil she Is about to
do me-and Shortwell, too, must allow
me this chance If there is a single spark
of honor in his body. All want OF
you.' I will tell her. is private dis
cussion between ourselves, but it has to
be today. Immediately, and II you
still insist on going with that scoun-
drel-'"
Here. sir!' The page opened the
door marked Doctor" Thomas reeled
across the threshold.
Sister Martha looked attentively at
the doctor with her large eyes which
were lighter than her skin.
Perhaps You would like to lie down
for a little while before lunch" she
said. Il can finish my work later"
But Thomas had no desire for this.
He wanted to make the rounds of the
ship. His ignorance Of this huge
labyrinth. where around any corner he
might meet Sybil. made him unsure OF
himself. He asked Martha to accom-
pany him.
Very glad to. doctor-but everybody
is now busy unpacking and our visit
might upset them. And you really ought
to lie down for while she added
insistently and went over to a leather
covered couch. With the trained hand
Of nurse she flufied up the little pill
low. Every movement Of here remind
ed him Of pictures of one or the other
OF the pre- e-Raphaelite saints Probably
she is merely sexless. he thought. hence
neither prudiSh nor sex-conscious: that
is why she has neither husband nor
child at home. That is her whole Sc
cret. And probably she does not feel
in the least unhappy about it.
After she had left the room he did not
lie down. Every thought of his was
again concentrated upon his interview
with Sybil. Il shall not create a scene
and shall utter no reproaches: I shall
only remind her Of our common past.
Of our common plans for the future l
shall remind her Of that night In Flor
ence-such things simply cannot be
wiped out. cannot possibly be"
Meanwhile the Columbia began to get
under way. Now We are or" he thought
quite casually, and then immediately,
But II he should prevent her from
talking freely with me-should he for
bid 1t. lock her in, keep watch over her
we'll then I don't know what may
happen. then I don't know what may
happen to the three Of u.s.
There was Q knock. A steward was
waiting. you are to come to Cabin 19,
on B deck"
Directly" He quickly changed his
collar and brushed his hair. The
steward led him to the lift Cabin 49,"
he said to the lift boy.
ITO Mr., Stephanson." said the boy as
soon as he had pressed the button.
Curiosity and admiration were rirrored
In his exceptionally bright and alert
face.
Who is Mr.. Stephanson?" asked
Thomas who vaguely remembered that
Veith had mentioned his name.
The boy was not quite sure, but he
knew that StephsnsOn was big gun
Of some sort He had taken six rooms
for himself and his staff in the very
middle Of B deck. the most expensive
suite. with the exception Of the cabin
occupied by Mr.. Bartlett.
Come In" answered an irritable
voice from Cabin l9 when Thomas
knocked.
The room which he entered looked
as II It belonged to the royal suite in a
big metropolitan hotel: it had been
Professionally turned into a business
ONCE. The walls were covered with red
damaSk tapestry. there was delicately
gilded woodwork. soft rich rugs. mirrors,
crystal chandeliers-all in a vague mist
of blue cigar smoke and filled with
the clacking Of typewriter, interrupted
now and then by the metallic and
abrupt English which q man with short.
powerful legs. standing behind the
typist's back, was debating direct to the
machine.
Il am the ships doctor" said Thomas.
you sent for me?'
The short-legged man made con-
temptuous motion with his hand, as II
to indicate that, for all he cared, all
doctors in the world might go and
drown themselves, and pointed to the
adjoining room.
"Mr. Stephanson will be out in q
moment. Take seat" he said brusque-
ly. and began to dictate again. His
low. cultural. gurgling English seemed
20 inarticulate to Thomas that he was
puzzled rs to how the creature at the
typewriter Gould get it down in words.
This creature at the typewriter-he
saw her at three-quarters profile-was