k; and
even the Pavilion, where the ladies' orchestra slept after its noisy
labours, showed not a gleam of light. Heyst suddenly felt restless in
all his limbs, as this reaction from the long immobility would not be
denied, he humoured it by passing quietly along the back veranda and out
into the grounds at the side of the house, into the black shadows under
the trees, where the extinguished paper lanterns were gently swinging
their globes like withered fruit.

He paced there to and fro for a long time, a calm, meditative ghost in
his white drill-suit, revolving in his head thoughts absolutely novel,
disquieting, and seductive; accustoming his mind to the contemplation
of his purpose, in order that by being faced steadily it should appear
praiseworthy and wise. For the use of reason is to justify the obscure
desires that move our conduct, impulses, passions, prejudices, and
follies, and also our fears.

He felt that he had engaged himself by a rash promise to an action big
with incalculable consequences. And then he asked himself if the girl
had understood what he meant. Who could tell? He was assailed by all
sorts of doubts. Raising his head, he perceived something white flitting
between the trees. It vanished almost at once; but there could be no
mistake. He was vexed at being detected roaming like this in the middle
of the night. Who could that be? It never occurred to him that perhaps
the girl, too, would not be able to sleep. He advanced prudently. Then
he saw the white, phantom-like apparition again; and the next moment
all his doubts as to the state of her mind were laid at rest, because he
felt her clinging to him after the manner of supplicants all the world
over. Her whispers were so incoherent that he could not understand
anything; but this did not prevent him from being profoundly moved. He
had no illusions about her; but his sceptical mind was dominated by the
fulness of his heart.

"Calm yourself, calm yourself," he murmured in her ear, returning her
clasp at first mechanically, and afterwards with a growing appreciation
of her distressed humanity. The heaving of her breast and the trembling
of all her limbs, in the closeness of his embrace, seemed to enter his
body, to infect his very heart. While she was growing quieter in his
arms, he was becoming more agitated, as if there were only a fixed
quantity of violent emotion on this earth. The very night seemed
more dumb, more still, and the immobility of