the worst that can happen to me is to be told to mind my own
business； and I can always answer back： 'I was only trying to
help you。' If I don't speak； the man breaks his neck。 Between
the two； it seems to me； sooner than have any one's life on my
hands； I'd rather be told to mind my own business。〃
Hemingway stared into his glass。 His expression was distinctly
disapproving； but； undismayed； the consul continued。
〃Now； we all know that this morning you gave that polo pony
to Lady Firth； and one of us guesses that you first offered it to
some one else； who refused it。 One of us thinks that very soon；
to…morrow； or even to…night； at this party you may offer that
same person something else； something worth more than a polo
pony； and that if she refuses that； it is going to break you all
up； is going to hurt you for the rest of your life。〃
Lifting his eyes from his glass； Hemingway shot at his friend a
glance of warning。 In haste； Harris continued：
〃I know；〃 he protested； answering the look； 〃I know that this is
where Mr。 Buttinsky is told to mind his business。 But I'm going
right on。 I'm going to state a hypothetical case with no names
mentioned and no questions asked； or answered。 I'm going to
state a theory； and let you draw your own deductions。〃
He slid into a chair； and across the table fastened his eyes on those
of his friend。 Confidently and undisturbed； but with a wry smile
of dislike； Hemingway stared fixedly back at him。
〃What；〃 demanded Harris； 〃is the first rule in detective work？〃
Hemingway started。 He was prepared for something unpleasant； but
not for that particular form of unpleasantness。 But his faith was
unshaken； and he smiled confidently。 He let the consul answer his
own question。
〃It is to follow the woman；〃 declared Harris。 〃And； accordingly；
what should be the first precaution of a man making his get…away？
To see that the woman does not follow。 But suppose we are dealing
with a fugitive of especial intelligence； with a criminal who has
imagination and brains？ He might fix it so that the woman could
follow him without giving him away； he might plan it so that no one
would suspect。 She might arrive at his hiding…place only after many
months； only after each had made separately a long circuit of the
globe； only after a journey with a plausible and legitimate object。
She would arrive disguised in every way； and they would meet as
total strangers。 And； as strangers under the eyes of others； they
would become acquainted； would gradually grow more friendly；
would be seen more frequently together； until at last people would
say： 'Those two mean to make a match of it。' And then； one day；
openly； in the sight of all men； with the aid of the law and the
church； they would resume those relations that existed before the
man ran away and the woman followed。〃
There was a short silence。
Hemingway broke it in a tone that would accept no denial。
〃You can't talk like that to me；〃 he cried。 〃What do you mean？〃
Without resentment； the consul regarded him with grave solicitude。
His look was one of real affection； and； although his tone held the
absolute finality of the family physician who delivers a sentence
of death； he spoke with gentleness and regret。
〃I mean；〃 he said； 〃that Mrs。 Adair is not a widow； that the man
she speaks of as her late husband is not dead； that that man is
Fearing！〃
Hemingway felt afraid。 A month before a rhinoceros had charged
him and had dropped at his feet。 At another time a wounded lioness
had leaped into his path and crouched to spring。 Then he had not
been afraid。 Then he had aimed as confidently as though he were
firing at a straw target。 But now he felt real fear： fear of something
he did not comprehend； of a situation he could not master； of an
adversary as strong as Fate。 By a word something had been snatched
from him that he now knew was as dear to him as life； that was life；
that was what made it worth continuing。 And he could do nothing
to prevent it； he could not help himself。 He was as impotent as the
prisoner who hears the judge banish him into exile。 He tried to adjust
his mind to the calamity。 But his mind refused。 As easily as with his
finger a man can block the swing of a pendulum and halt the progress
of the clock； Harris with a word had brought the entire world to a full
stop。
And then； above his head； Hemingway heard the lazy whisper of the
punka； and from the harbor the raucous whistle of the Crown Prince
Eitel； signalling her entrance。 The world had not stopped； for the
punka…boy； for the captain of the German steamer； for Harris seated
with face averted； the world was still going gayly and busily forward。
Only for him had it stopped。
In spite of the confident tone in which Harris had spoken； in spite of
the fact that unless he knew it was the truth； he would not have spoken；
Hemingway tried to urge himself to believe there had been some
hideous； absurd error。 But in answer came back to him snatches
of talk or phrases the girl had last addressed to him： 〃You can
command the future； but you cannot change the past。 I cannot
marry you； or any one！ I am not free！〃
And then to comfort himself； he called up the look he had surprised
in her eyes when he stood holding her hands in his。 He clung to it；
as a drowning man will clutch even at a piece of floating seaweed。
When he tried to speak he found his voice choked and stifled； and
that his distress was evident； he knew from the pity he read in the
eyes of Harris。
In a voice strange to him； he heard himself saying： 〃Why do you
think that？ You've got to tell me。 I have a right to know。 This
morning I asked Mrs。 Adair to marry me。〃
The consul exclaimed with dismay and squirmed unhappily。 〃I
didn't know；〃 he protested。 〃I thought I was in time。 I ought to
have told you days ago； but〃
〃Tell me now；〃 commanded Hemingway。
〃I know it in a thousand ways；〃 began Harris。
Hemingway raised his eyes hopefully。
But the consul shook his head。 〃But to convince you；〃 he went on；
〃I need tell you only one。 The thousand other proofs are looks they
have exchanged； sentences I have chanced to overhear； and that each
of them unknown to the other has told me of little happenings and
incidents which I found were common to both。 Each has described
the house in which he or she lived； and it was the same house。 They
claim to come from different cities in New England； they came from
the same city。 They claim〃
〃That is no proof；〃 cried Hemingway； 〃either that they are married；
or that the man is a criminal。〃
For a moment Harris regarded the other in silence。 Then he said：
〃You're making it very hard for me。 I see I've got to show you。
It's kindest； after all； to cut quick。〃 He leaned farther forward；
and his voice dropped。 Speaking quickly； he said：
〃Last summer I lived outside the town in a bungalow on the Pearl
Road。 Fearing's house was next to mine。 This was before Mrs。
Adair went to live at the agency； and while she was alone in
another bungalow farther down the road。 I was ill that summer；
my nerves went back on me。 I couldn't sleep。 I used to sit all night
on my veranda and pray for the sun to rise。 From where I sat it was
dark and no one could see me； but I could see the veranda of Fearing's
house and into his garden。 And night after night I saw Mrs。 Adair
creep out of Fearing's house； saw him walk with her to the gate； saw
him in the shadow of the bushes take her in his arms； and saw them
kiss。〃 The voice of the consul rose sharply。 〃No one knows that but
you and I； and；〃 he cried defiantly； 〃it is impossible for us to believe
ill of Polly Adair。 The easy explanation we refuse。 It is intolerable。
And so you must believe as I believe； that when she visited Fearing
by night she went to him because she had the right to go to him；
because already she was his wife。 And now when every one here
believes they met for the first time in Zanzibar； when no one will be
surprised if they should marry； they will go through the ceremony
again； and live as man and wife； as they are； as they were before he
fled from America！〃
Hemingway was seated with his elbows on the table and his face in
his hands。 He was so long silent that Harris struck the table roughly
with his palm。
〃Well；〃 he demanded； 〃why don't you speak？ Do you doubt her？
Don't you believe she is his wife？〃
〃I refuse to believe anything else！〃 said Hemingway。 He rose； and
slowly and heavily moved toward the door。 〃And I will not trouble
them any more；〃 he added。 〃I'll leave at sunrise on the Eitel。〃
Harris exclaimed in dismay； but Hemingway did not hear him。 In
the doorway he halted and turned back。 From his voice all trace
of emotion had departed。 〃Why；〃 he asked dully； 〃do you think
Fearing is a fugitive？ Not that it matters to her； since she loves
him； or that it matters to me。 Only I would like to think you were
wrong。 I want her to have only the best。〃
Again the consul moved unhappily。
〃I oughtn't to tell you；〃 he protested； 〃and if I do I ought to tell the
State Department； and a detective agency first。 They have the call。
They want him； o