Out of the Past — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

Out of the Past. 75 —it is such a beastly sensation to stand before the crowd, and I hate their looking at her. Not a man here is fit.” But she was talking pleasantly with several of them, tall, cool and gracious as a forest-flower. “TI fear M. d’Escarte interrupted you,” she said, as she gave him her hand and, turning, Robert saw superb Saline alone in full view from where they stood. “I did not know you had arrived when I asked for you and I will not detain you. I only wanted to ask if you happen to have a mute in some pocket. I have either left or lost mine.” | “T always carry my implements,” Robert answered, pro- ducing the mute, “and as for Mme. Vignaud, whom you see, I escorted her there and gave my time to her because no one else dared.” “How strangely you speak.” ‘Nevertheless, I speak justly. Now M. Vignaud him- self must care for his wife. May I look your instrument over to be sure it is ready?” Finding nothing out of order, he took Rose to a loung- ing corner of the ante-room, placing pillows behind her in a restful corner and drawing a chair near. For a moment he was overwhelmingly conscious of her face as he had seen it in twilight, with the glisten of tears upon it, and of the sense of loneliness which had swept EORNICLOOOLK<S