“Take your eyes, too!” he said aloud. His voice rose higher. “I say, take your eyes!”
Other diners looked curiously at him, smiling and nodding their heads. A small, dark woman exchanged glances with her escort.
“He’s had plenty,” she said. “I watched him and the woman. They had an argument. The man’s tight.”
“I don’t know. It looks as though he has the horrors.”
Roberts gazed steadily at the translucent eyes floating across the table.
“All right, my dear. Stay there,” he said loudly.
The dark woman’s escort glanced at him worriedly and beckoned to a waiter.
“Say, waiter, there’s a chap over there with the jitters. He needs looking after.”
“Is there something you wish, sir?” he said, deferentially.
Roberts still watched the eyes. He stood up and spoke quietly.
“Very well, I shall go. You remain here.” Turning to the waiter, “My hat, quickly.”
Outside, the adviser hailed a taxi, climbed in unsteadily and directed the driver to his apartment.
Dropping his coat on the divan in the living room, he went hurriedly to the mirror and stared into it. The light on the glass wavered, a shadow appeared, and Deane’s eyes, large and transparent, materialized before him. Roberts cried out sharply.
He jerked around, went to a chair, sat on the edge of it and put his head in his hands, rocking gently on his toes.
“My God, Martin!—to think that I could have loved you! After all, Devaud, you’re nothing but a sailor. A hostile, bestial—” Roberts’ head jerked back and he jumped to his feet, breathing heavily. “Deane,” he panted, “you’re in this room! It won’t help to try and hide. I can locate you by your eyes. They’re in that glass there.” He pointed. “You think you know my secret. It’s a lie! It’s a dream, and you’re a lie!” He leaned against the chair, his cheeks darkening. “I’ll find Martin. Martin will be fair.... Martin—you always liked me. You didn’t deserve a job.... Take her away, Martin! I want to sleep. I can’t sleep while she’s hiding here.” He stopped speaking, a crafty expression changing his face. Tiptoeing into the bathroom, he pulled the mirror from the cabinet and holding it under his arm, crept back to the living room.
Approaching the larger glass which hung at the end of the room, he quickly drew the other mirror from under his arm and held it so that the two of them reflected into each other. Then, bursting into short, sobbing laughter, he shook the smaller glass furiously.