“Now this was the first time that I had seen these priceless pieces myself, and priceless they were. Because they were not cameos in the sense that we think of them, that is, ornaments carved from contrasting strata of shell or stone. They were portraits carved from gems, and in this case the gems were large amethysts and emeralds of Brazilian origin, and whereas amethysts are no longer very expensive gems, due to the discovery of such a supply of them in the New World, emeralds are expensive. And the carving of these small heads, each obviously of a particular Roman deity, was excellent if not absolutely magnificent.

“They were four in number, these gifts, and Aunt Queen had of course been incredibly grateful for this tribute, and then I had come home and pitched the gathering into confusion, as she was sure I was willing to explain.

“I did explain. I started at the beginning. I explained everything. I ate veal and pasta and guzzled white wine, forgetting to blot my lips before drinking and thereby going through two and three wineglasses before remembering, but I was passionately pouring out my tale, beginning with Rebecca and her visions and how they had driven me to the island, and what I had seen there in the moonlight, and how things had spun out from there, and how in a rage I had burnt the trespasser’s books, and how he or she had come at me, and on it went. I left out nothing.

“Jasmine brought plate after plate of veal and pasta for me. I was happy to devour it.

“ ‘So there you see it,’ I said. ‘And then you have Goblin saying “Evil, Quinn,” in my ear, and then that shock when I take Petronia’s hand, that feeling of something like electricity that reaches out for Goblin and travels through Goblin to me! And this thing, this being, this creature, this interloper who threatens me, he can’t see Goblin but he knows that Goblin is there. He knows Goblin can send showering glass at him, and for all his speed and strength, he doesn’t want to be cut.’

“At last I came to a halt. I knew Aunt Queen and Nash were watching me. I knew they were watching Stirling as well.

“ ‘No,’ said Stirling quietly. He had finished his meal in spite of many many pauses in which he had stared at me with rapt attention. ‘It doesn’t want to be cut.’

“ ‘Do you say “it,” on account of her ambiguous sexuality?’ asked Nash politely. There was some subtle tension between Nash and Stirling. I couldn’t figure it.

“ ‘No, I don’t think so,’ said Stirling. ‘I hope not. But who knows? Let me say, she does not want to be cut.’