Instinctively she glanced at the
papers exposed in the box, and at the letters beside it. The document on
the top of the pile in the box related to Cyprus--the name caught her
eye. Another document was half-exposed beneath it. Her hand went to her
heart. She saw the words, "Soudan" and "Claridge Pasha." She reached for
it, then drew back her hand, and her eyes closed as though to shut it out
from her sight. Why should she not see it? They were her husband's
papers, husband and wife were one. Husband and wife one! She shrank back.
Were they one? An overmastering desire was on her. It seemed terrible to
wait, when here before her was news of David, of life or death. Suddenly
she put out her hand and drew the Cyprus paper over the Egyptian
document, so that she might not see it.
As she did so the door opened on her, and Eglington entered. He had seen
the swift motion of her hand, and again a look peculiar to him crossed
his face, enigmatical, cynical, not pleasant to see.
She turned on him slowly, and he was aware of her inward distress to some
degree, though her face was ruled to quietness.
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