Out of the Past — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

90 Out of the Past. “You relieve me of a great anxiety. As you may un- derstand at some future time, I am not an exemplary man, but until this night | have never seen myself in my true colors and I have you to thank.” Although Rose gave him her undivided attention, ap- _ propriating what she could from his face and manner, she had no comprehension of his meaning. M. Vignaud was perplexed and at last, as she was rising, he exclaimed earnestly : ‘Promise me that you will never recognize any of the men and women you have seen here—under any circum- stances.” Rose looked down at him much startled. “Never, mademoiselle—I beg of you.” “But why?” “They are not real.” 99 “But the accompanist “Ts no musician. He is a sham, like the rest.” “What is it, then? Do speak so I can understand. What are they?” “They are not good—that is all.” “But Mme. Vignaud !” “Ts not Mme. Vignaud. I have no wife.” Rose showed only in her varying color that she under- stood. She looked over the room at Saline with a long COMMIEOOOKS (E(O)