"I knew it, but it made no difference; I was only moved to a
higher self-glorification. I touched supremacy that night.
But as we drove home I experienced the strangest coincidence
of my life. You remember the block in the traffic at
Piccadilly?"
Again Eve bent her head.
"Well, when I looked out of the carriage window to discover
its cause the first man I saw was--Chilcote."
Eve started slightly. This swift, unexpected linking of
Chilcote's name with the most exalted moment of her life
stirred her unpleasantly. Some glimmering of Loder's
intention in so linking it, broke through the web of disturbed
and conflicting thoughts.
"You saw him on that night?"
"Yes; and the sight chilled me. It was a big drop from
supremacy to the remembrance of--everything."
Involuntarily she put out her hand.
But Loder shook his head. "No," he said, "don't pity me! The
sight of him came just in time. I had a reaction in that
moment, and, such as it was, I acted on it. I went to him
next morning and told him that the thing must end.
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