There was evidently no lead for him there. He had to laugh, and give it
up. Clytie's mood grew more serious.
"Mr. Cayley was telling me how interesting you were after the ladies had
left; really, he was quite complimentary. He told me all about that
absurd Bennett affair you talked about."
"Yes, it was an extraordinary case." He wondered what was coming.
"I mean the story was absurd to hear, but I can't help wondering what
sort of people they were who would deceive an old man like that. It
seems pitiful to me that any one could have the heart to do it--and for
money, too."
Granthope cursed his indiscretion. Must she find this out, too? Was no
part of his life, past or present, safe from her? If so, he might as
well give her up now. It seemed impossible to conceal anything from her
clear vision. But he still strove to put her off.
"Oh, these people were weak and ignorant--we haven't all the same
advantages or the same sensitiveness to honor and truth. They were used
to this sort of thing, hardened to it, and perhaps unconscious of their
baseness by a constant association with such deceptions."
"But didn't Mr. Bennett have any friends to warn him--to show these
people up in their true light?"
"Oh, that was no use. It was tried, yes; that is, he was shown his
carriage, for instance, after it was sold, but he refused to believe it
was the same one. He confessed that it was just like it, but he knew
that his was then on the planet Jupiter. I don't think the mediums
themselves could have convinced him."
"Think of it! It makes their swindling even worse. If he had doubted,
if he had tried to trap them, it wouldn't be quite so bad, it would have
been a battle of brains--but to impose on such credulity, to make a
living by it--oh, it's unthinkable!"
"Well, after all, they made him happy. In a way, they were telling him
only pleasant lies, as a parent might tell a child about Santa Claus and
the fairies."
He could not keep it up much longer. It was too perilous; and he played
for her sympathy. "After all, I suppose my business is about as
undignified."
"But it's really a science, isn't it? Mr. Cayley gave me to understand
that you had a convincing theory to explain all personal physical
characteristics."
"There's a little more to palmistry than that, I think--an instinctive
feeling for character."
"Of course. You must have felt my personality intuitively, or you would
never have been able to get it so well. But it was most extraordinary
of all, I think, the way you got my name. How do you account for that?"
He felt the net closing about him.
"Oh, I'm sometimes clairaudient."
She took it up with animation. "Are you? I must try to send you a
message!"
"Haven't you?" he said, still attempting to keep the talk less serious.
"All day I have heard you saying, 'You must learn.' But learn what?"
"It seems so queer to me that you shouldn't know, yourself."
"Then tell me. Explain."
"No, you'll find out, I think."
He waited a while, for a twinge of pain gave him all he could do to
control himself. Somehow it sobered him. "I wish I dared to be friends
with you."
She gave him her hand simply and he returned its cordial pressure. He
was sincere enough, now. He was not afraid of mere generalities.
"I'm not worthy of your friendship," he said. "I'd hate to have you
know how little I am worth it. If you knew how I have lived--what few
chances I have had to know any one really worth while. I've never yet
had a friend who was able to understand me."
"I have given you my hand," she replied, "and I shall not withdraw it.
It is my intuition, you see, and not my reason, that makes me trust
you."
They relapsed for a while into silence. Then, as the cab turned up into
Geary Street, past the electric lights, she went on as if she had been
thinking it out to herself.
"You know what I said the other day about its being easier to say real
things at the first meeting. I am afraid I said too much then. But I
was impatient. I felt that I might never see you again and I wanted to
give you the message. Now, when I feel sure that we're going to be
friends, I am quite willing to wait and let it all come about naturally.
The only thing I demand is honesty."
"Is that all?" he asked, with a touch of sarcasm.