Two or three days later Dirk Stroeve called on me.

　　‘I hear youve seen Blanche’,he said.

　　‘How on earth did you find out?’

　　‘I was told by someone who saw you sitting with them.Why didnt you tell me?’

　　‘I thought it would only pain you.’

　　‘What do I care if it does?You must know that I want to hear the smallest thing about her.’

　　I waited for him to ask me questions.

　　‘What does she look like?’he said.

　　‘Absolutely unchanged.’

　　‘Does she seem happy?’

　　I shrugged my shoulders.

　　‘How can I tell?We were in a café;we were playing chess;I had no opportunity to speak to her.’

　　‘Oh,but couldnt you tell by her face?’

　　I shook my head.I could only repeat that by no word,by no hinted gesture,had she given an indication of her feelings.He must know better than I how great were her powers of selfcontrol.He clasped his hands emotionally.

　　‘Oh,Im so frightened.I know something is going to happen,something terrible,and I can do nothing to stop it.’

　　‘What sort of thing?’I as......