Where was he?
Alone in the solitude of his own chamber, with his thoughts upon the past.

Again he had been reading over those pages of his Book of Life in which was written the history of his intimacy with and desertion of Edith; and the record seemed as fresh as if made but the day before.

It was in vain that he sought to close or avert his eyes.

There seemed a spell upon him; and he could only look and read.
"Fatal error!" he murmured to himself, as he struggled to free himself from his thraldom to the past.

"Fatal error! How a single act will curse a man through life.