Quotation from: The Arrow of Gold

Written by: Joseph Conrad


I suppose an honourable bankrupt would know such an awakening: the
sense of catastrophe, the shrinking from the necessity of beginning
life again, the faint feeling that there are misfortunes which must
be paid for by a hanging. In the course of the morning Therese
informed me that the apartment usually occupied by Mr. Blunt was
vacant and added mysteriously that she intended to keep it vacant
for a time, because she had been instructed to do so. I couldn't
imagine why Blunt should wish to return to Marseilles. She told me
also that the house was empty except for myself and the two dancing
girls with their father. Those people had been away for some time
as the girls had engagements in some Italian summer theatres, but
apparently they had secured a re-engagement for the winter and were
now back. I let Therese talk because it kept my imagination from
going to work on subjects which, I had made up my mind, were no
concern of mine. But I went out early to perform an unpleasant
task. It was only proper that I should let the Carlist agent
ensconced in the Prado Villa know of the sudden ending of my
activities. It would be grave enough news for him, and I did not
like to be its bearer for reasons which were mainly personal. I
resembled Dominic in so far that I, too, disliked failure.

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