The Secret Meaning of Henry James

The figure in the carpet is a secret meaning or intention of the author that carries through all of his books. Reviewers like George Corvik have sensed it and Veriker himself has announced it to our narrator, but he's given madmaningly few hints. So literary detective hats are on discerning critics. Neckties are tied. We see the carpet. All those words are the design. But when going from book to book, is there a pattern?