. . . She was jealous of Phyllis;
that was why I knew that she loved me. . . . And the subtle change in
Phyllis's demeanor towards me; what did it signify? . . . Gretchen was
to be married Thursday because there were no proofs that Phyllis was
her sister. . . . What if Gretchen had been Phyllis, and Phyllis had
been Gretchen. . . . Heigho! I threw some more coals on the fire.
The candle sank in the socket. There are some things we men cannot
understand; the sea, the heavens and woman. . . . Suddenly I brought
both hands down on my knees. The innkeeper! The innkeeper! He knew!
In a moment I was rummaging through the stack of time tables. The next
south-bound train left at 3:20. I looked at the clock; 2:20. My dress
suit began to fly around on various chairs. Yes; how simple it was!
The innkeeper knew; he had known it all these years. I threw my white
cravat onto the table and picked up the most convenient tie. In ten
minutes from the time the idea came to me I was completely dressed in
traveling garments. I had a day and a half. It would take twenty
hours to fetch the innkeeper.
Pages:
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280