the beast in the jungle-第13章
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t of chance； the insolence of accident。 Now that the illumination had begun； however； it blazed to the zenith； and what he presently stood there gazing at was the sounded void of his life。 He gazed； he drew breath； in pain； he turned in his dismay； and； turning； he had before him in sharper incision than ever the open page of his story。 The name on the table smote him as the passage of his neighbour had done； and what it said to him； full in the face； was that she was what he had missed。 This was the awful thought； the answer to all the past； the vision at the dread clearness of which he turned as cold as the stone beneath him。 Everything fell together； confessed； explained； overwhelmed； leaving him most of all stupefied at the blindness he had cherished。 The fate he had been marked for he had met with a vengeancehe had emptied the cup to the lees； he had been the man of his time； THE man； to whom nothing on earth was to have happened。 That was the rare stroke that was his visitation。 So he saw it； as we say； in pale horror； while the pieces fitted and fitted。 So SHE had seen it while he didn't； and so she served at this hour to drive the truth home。 It was the truth； vivid and monstrous； that all the while he had waited the wait was itself his portion。 This the companion of his vigil had at a given moment made out； and she had then offered him the chance to baffle his doom。 One's doom； however； was never baffled； and on the day she told him his own had come down she had seen him but stupidly stare at the escape she offered him。
The escape would have been to love her； then； THEN he would have lived。 SHE had livedwho could say now with what passion？since she had loved him for himself； whereas he had never thought of her （ah how it hugely glared at him！） but in the chill of his egotism and the light of her use。 Her spoken words came back to himthe chain stretched and stretched。 The Beast had lurked indeed； and the Beast； at its hour； had sprung； it had sprung in that twilight of the cold April when； pale； ill； wasted； but all beautiful； and perhaps even then recoverable； she had risen from her chair to stand before him and let him imaginably guess。 It had sprung as he didn't guess； it had sprung as she hopelessly turned from him； and the mark； by the time he left her； had fallen where it WAS to fall。 He had justified his fear and achieved his fate； he had failed； with the last exactitude； of all he was to fail of； and a moan now rose to his lips as he remembered she had prayed he mightn't know。 This horror of wakingTHIS was knowledge； knowledge under the breath of which the very tears in his eyes seemed to freeze。 Through them； none the less； he tried to fix it and hold it； he kept it there before him so that he might feel the pain。 That at least； belated and bitter； had something of the taste of life。 But the bitterness suddenly sickened him； and it was as if； horribly； he saw； in the truth； in the cruelty of his image； what had been appointed and done。 He saw the Jungle of his life and saw the lurking Beast； then； while he looked； perceived it； as by a stir of the air； rise； huge and hideous； for the leap that was to settle him。 His eyes darkenedit was close； and； instinctively turning； in his hallucination； to avoid it； he flung himself； face down； on the tomb。
End
