He regarded me for a long time in silence, his face rather open and generous, which seemed a natural expression for it, and then he spoke:

“You know, I was on the scent of Stirling Oliver when I came upon you. I knew that he was entering my flat—he’s done it more than once—and I thought it was time that he should have a little scare. I wasn’t certain how I meant to arrange that, though I had no intention of revealing myself to him, but then I came upon you about to make the little scare quite final for Mr. Oliver, and it was from your confused mind that I caught the reason you’d come.”

I nodded, then said hastily, “He doesn’t mean any harm, you saw that. I can’t tell you how thankful I am that you stopped me. I don’t think I could have survived my killing him. I’m sure of it. It would have been the finish for me, and I’m terrified of my own clumsiness, that a death like that—. But you must realize he won’t do any harm to us, either of us—.”

“Oh, yes, now you’re out to save him from destruction. Stop worrying. The Talamasca’s off limits, I told you. Besides, I gave them what they’ve wanted for some time, don’t you see?”

“Yes, a sighting of you, a talk with you.”

“Correct, and they’ll mull that over, and letters will be sent to the Elders, but I know perfectly well they can’t harm us. And he and his cohorts won’t come out here looking for you. They’re too damned honorable. But you must tell me now, in case I’ve underestimated them, do you lie by day in a safe place?”

“Very safe,” I said quickly. “On Sugar Devil Island, which they could never conceivably find. But surely you’re right, Stirling will keep his promise not to come looking for me or seek me out. I believe in him utterly. That’s why it’s so ghastly that I almost hurt him, I almost took his life.”

“And would it have been to the finish with him?” he asked. “Have you no self-control once you’ve begun?”

I was full of misery.

“I don’t know what self-control I have. On the night of my making I committed a blunder, taking an innocent life—.”

“Then that was your Maker’s blunder,” he retorted. “He should have been with you, teaching you.”

I nodded.