Not a bad feat for a man of my age! I hope Eyes and Nose,
and any other features that may have been with them, travelled on
unsuspectingly. But I can't be sure. Instinct says they saw my trick
and trumped it.
"I oughtn't to have come here, bringing danger to your house, Mrs.
Donaldson. But I want to see Don, and I know he is afraid neither of man
nor devil--afraid of nothing in the world except one woman.
"As for her--well, what I'd heard hadn't prepossessed me in her favour.
I sacrificed her for the safety of my golden images and my talk with Don.
But the sound of your voice behind the shut door broke the picture I'd
made of that young woman. And when I saw you--well, Mrs. Donaldson, I've
already told you I don't intend to exert my influence over your husband,
though to do so was my principal object in coming. Even if I did, I
believe yours would prove stronger. But if I could count on all my old
power over him, I wouldn't use it now I have seen you.
"I adore myself, and--my specialties. But there must be an unselfish
streak in me which shows in moments like this. I respect and admire it.
You may treat Don like a dog, but he'd never be happy away from you.
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