The greedy man has eaten so many courses, Julian."
He seemed to take a delight in throwing out allusions to one and the
other of his guests, allusions which nobody but the person addressed
could understand rightly. For he now went on, addressing himself to
Cuckoo:
"In this little room was committed the great act of brigandage of which
I once spoke to you. Do you remember?"
She shook her head.
"Never mind. But, though you cannot remember, that might make you
shiver."
"What act of brigandage, Valentine?" Julian asked.
"Oh, the attempt--my attempt to seize upon a different soul."
"But you failed."
"Did I? Do you think so, doctor?"
His apparent audacity seemed to increase. In the twilight of the scented
room he drew himself up as he stood by the brocaded screen that hid the
fire. He closed and unclosed rapidly his left hand which hung at his
side. His foot tapped the thick carpet gently.
"Did you not?" the doctor answered quietly.
But Julian was roused to vivacity.
"What do you mean, Valentine?" he said. "Of course you may have changed,
or developed, or whatever you like to call it, since then. But to say you
have got a different soul!"
"Is absurd? Yes, you are right. Because if I had got a different soul
the original 'I,' that was dissatisfied with itself, must have ceased
to be.
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