Out of the Past — page 106: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Out of the Past. 103 venience, but I beg you to come at any hour that suits you—but, at least, to come. “Accept the assurance of my greatest esteem and be- lieve me forever your friend, Saline Vignaud. “Pray destroy my note.” “How tiresome!” muttered Robert. “There has been a misunderstanding, and the disinterested friend is re- quested to appear. I hate such things. I can go at five o'clock, and I suppose I must.” But at five o’clock callers arrived, followed by his agent, who remained to dine with him, and it was after eight o'clock before Robert was free. The dinner had been a good one, the news brought by his agent had been exceptionally bright, and Robert was inclined to be indulgent, even to a disagreeable duty. He went to the address Saline had given and found her in a marvelous apartment, gowned as she had been the night before. She was pale, and her eyes burned bril- liantly, but otherwise she bore no signs of distress, ex- cepting that she seemed intensely reserved and intensely alive. “Indeed you are good. (Take monsieur’s things, Louise, and leave us.) I have to go out shortly, but per- haps you will accompany me and finish on the way. You do not know how I appreciate this. Why did I write you? Because I trust you. You have a heart of gold. Gomicbooks (E(o)