死亡约会 Part II Chapter 13（2）（在线收听）

‘Anyway,’ went on Mr Cope, ‘you came to me yesterday and told me that you’d definitelydecided to leave Lennox. I applaud your decision. It wasn’t right—the life you were leading. Youwere quite honest with me. You didn’t pretend to be more than just mildly fond of me. Well, thatwas all right with me. All I asked was the chance to look after you and treat you as you should betreated. I may say that afternoon was one of the happiest afternoons in my life.’

Nadine cried out: ‘I’m sorry—I’m sorry.’

‘No, my dear, because all along I had a kind of feeling that it wasn’t real. I felt it was quite onthe cards that you would have changed your mind by the next morning. Well, things are differentnow. You and Lennox can lead a life of your own.’

Nadine said quietly: ‘Yes. I can’t leave Lennox. Please forgive me.’

‘Nothing to forgive,’ declared Mr Cope. ‘You and I will go back to being old friends. We’ll justforget about that afternoon.’

Nadine placed a gentle hand on his arm. ‘Dear Jefferson, thank you. I’m going to find Lennoxnow.’

She turned and left him. Mr Cope went on alone.

II

Nadine found Lennox sitting at the top of the Graeco-Roman theatre. He was in such a brownstudy that he hardly noticed her till she sank breathless at his side. ‘Lennox.’

‘Nadine.’ He half turned.

She said: ‘We haven’t been able to talk until now. But you know, don’t you, that I am notleaving you?’

He said gravely: ‘Did you ever really mean to, Nadine?’

She nodded. ‘Yes. You see, it seemed to be the only possible thing left to do. I hoped—I hopedthat you would come after me. Poor Jefferson, how mean I have been to him.’

Lennox gave a sudden curt laugh.

‘No, you haven’t. Anyone who is as unselfish as Cope ought to be given full scope for hisnobility! And you were right, you know, Nadine. When you told me that you were going awaywith him you gave me the shock of my life! You know, honestly, I think I must have been goingqueer or something lately. Why the hell didn’t I snap my fingers in Mother’s face and go off withyou when you wanted me to?’

She said gently: ‘You couldn’t, my dear, you couldn’t.’

Lennox said musingly: ‘Mother was a damned queer character…I believe she’d got us all halfhypnotized.’

‘She had.’

Lennox mused a minute or two longer. Then he said: ‘When you told me that afternoon—it wasjust like being hit a crack on the head! I walked back half dazed, and then, suddenly I saw what adamned fool I’d been! I realized that there was only one thing to be done if I didn’t want to loseyou.’

He felt her stiffen. His tone became grimmer.

‘I went and—’

‘Don’t…’

He gave her a quick glance.

‘I went and—argued with her.’ He spoke with a complete change of tone—careful and rathertoneless. ‘I told her that I got to choose between her and you—and that I chose you.’

There was a pause.

He repeated, in a tone of curious self-approval:

‘Yes, that’s what I said to her.’