The Equinox (Volume I, Number VI)

THE ORDEAL OF IDA PENDRAGON " And to all arts there is but One summit ! " continued the girl. “You are a nymflkomane,” he said; “your aspiration is the lie you tell yourself." She struck him across the face. “ Devill” she cried, so loud that even in the Taverne Pantheon folk looked up and laughed, “ have I not heard that from conscience since I was sixteen? A blow is the one answer possible.” “ Α blow is but your male desire,” he said, unmoved. “How shall I prove my truth?” she sobbed, disquieted and angry. " Live it down, little girl,” he said kindly. "Trust me; I will prove you and justify you. Afterwards I ” “ Do you think ?—now—?" she began indignantly. “I know it,” said he. “ In the grey light, to—morrow, we will talk." She suddenly felt chill and afraid. “ I am not ready,” she said; “I am not worthy . . .” " It is to prove you worthy,” said he, “ that I was sent to you.” " Well, God aid me,” said the girl. She was serious and almost sobbing, her face drawn and white beneath its paint. Her emotion added piquancy to her voluptuousness, pathos to her brute appeal. "At this moment, of all moments? How should I find you? It was one chance in a million million.” Edgar lifted the knife that lay by his side. There was a fly on the tablecloth. Adroit and salmon-swift, he cut it fairly in half. “ Bad luck on the fly?" he laughed. “ But Ι did it. Chance only means ignorance of causes.” 119