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the others at table； and with Madame Ducret slowly paced the deck。
As they passed out of the reach of the lights； he drew her to the
rail； and stood in front of her。
〃I am not quite mad；〃 he said； 〃but you have got to come with me。〃
To Everett all he added to this sounded sane and final。 He told
her that this was one of those miracles when the one woman and the
one man who were predestined to meet had met。 He told her he had
wished to marry a girl at home； but that he now saw that the desire
was the fancy of a school…boy。 He told her he was rich； and
offered her the choice of returning to the Paris she loved； or of
going deeper into the jungle。 There he would set up for her a
principality； a state within the State。 He would defend her
against all comers。 He would make her the Queen of the Congo。
〃I have waited for you thousands of years！〃 he told her。 His voice
was hoarse； shaken； and thick。 〃I love you as men loved women in
the Stone Agefiercely； entirely。 I will not be denied。 Down
here we are cave people； if you fight me； I will club you and drag
you to my cave。 If others fight for you； I will KILL them。 I love
you；〃 he panted； 〃with all my soul； my mind； my body； I love you！
I will not let you go！〃
Madame Ducret did not say she was insulted； because she did not
feel insulted。 She did not call to her husband for help； because
she did not need his help； and because she knew that the ex…
wrestler could break Everett across his knee。 She did not even
withdraw her hands； although Everett drove the diamonds deep into
her fingers。
〃You frighten me！〃 she pleaded。 She was not in the least
frightened。 She only was sorry that this one must be discarded
among the incurables。
In apparent agitation； she whispered； 〃To…morrow！ To…morrow I will
give you your answer。〃
Everett did not trust her； did not release her。 He regarded her
jealously； with quick suspicion。 To warn her that he knew she
could not escape from Matadi； or from him； he said； 〃The train to
Leopoldville does not leave for two days！〃
〃I know！〃 whispered Madame Ducret soothingly。 〃I will give you
your answer to…morrow at ten。〃 She emphasized the hour； because
she knew at sunrise a special train would carry her husband and
herself to Leopoldville； and that there one of her husband's
steamers would bear them across the Pool to French Congo。
〃To…morrow； then！〃 whispered Everett； grudgingly。 〃But I must kiss
you now！〃
Only an instant did Madame Ducret hesitate。 Then she turned her
cheek。 〃Yes；〃 she assented。 〃You must kiss me now。〃
Everett did not rejoin the others。 He led her back into the circle
of light； and locked himself in his cabin。
At ten the next morning； when Ducret and his wife were well
advanced toward Stanley Pool； Cuthbert handed Everett a note。
Having been told what it contained； he did not move away； but； with
his back turned； leaned upon the rail。
Everett； his eyes on fire with triumph； his fingers trembling； tore
open the envelope。
Madame Ducret wrote that her husband and herself felt that Mr。
Everett was suffering more severely from the climate than he knew。
With regret they cancelled their invitation to visit them； and
urged him； for his health's sake； to continue as he had planned； to
northern latitudes。 They hoped to meet in Paris。 They extended
assurances of their distinguished consideration。
Slowly； savagely； as though wreaking his suffering on some human
thing； Everett tore the note into minute fragments。 Moving
unsteadily to the ship's side； he flung them into the river； and
then hung limply upon the rail。
Above him； from a sky of brass； the sun stabbed at his eyeballs。
Below him； the rush of the Congo； churning in muddy whirlpools；
echoed against the hills of naked rock that met the naked sky。
To Everett； the roar of the great river； and the echoes from the
land he had set out to reform； carried the sound of gigantic；
hideous laughter。
End