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There were lots of careers； he told himself； that were open to a
man with solid financial backing and good connections。 There might
yet be jolly times ahead； in which his mother would have her share
of the good things that were going； and carking thin…lipped Henry
Greech and other of Comus's detractors could take their sour looks
and words out of sight and hearing。 Thus； staring at the picture
as though he were studying its every detail； and seeing really only
that wistful friendly smile； Comus made his plans and dispositions
for a battle that was already fought and lost。
The crowd grew thicker in the galleries； cheerfully enduring an
amount of overcrowding that would have been fiercely resented in a
railway carriage。 Near the entrance Mervyn Quentock was talking to
a Serene Highness； a lady who led a life of obtrusive usefulness；
largely imposed on her by a good…natured inability to say 〃No。〃
〃That woman creates a positive draught with the number of bazaars
she opens；〃 a frivolously…spoken ex…Cabinet Minister had once
remarked。 At the present moment she was being whimsically
apologetic。
〃When I think of the legions of well…meaning young men and women to
whom I've given away prizes for proficiency in art…school
curriculum； I feel that I ought not to show my face inside a
picture gallery。 I always imagine that my punishment in another
world will be perpetually sharpening pencils and cleaning palettes
for unending relays of misguided young people whom I deliberately
encouraged in their artistic delusions。〃
〃Do you suppose we shall all get appropriate punishments in another
world for our sins in this？〃 asked Quentock。
〃Not so much for our sins as for our indiscretions； they are the
things which do the most harm and cause the greatest trouble。 I
feel certain that Christopher Columbus will undergo the endless
torment of being discovered by parties of American tourists。 You
see I am quite old fashioned in my ideas about the terrors and
inconveniences of the next world。 And now I must be running away；
I've got to open a Free Library somewhere。 You know the sort of
thing that happens … one unveils a bust of Carlyle and makes a
speech about Ruskin； and then people come in their thousands and
read 'Rabid Ralph； or Should he have Bitten Her？' Don't forget；
please； I'm going to have the medallion with the fat cupid sitting
on a sundial。 And just one thing more … perhaps I ought not to ask
you； but you have such nice kind eyes； you embolden one to make
daring requests； would you send me the recipe for those lovely
chestnut…and…chicken…liver sandwiches？ I know the ingredients of
course； but it's the proportions that make such a difference … just
how much liver to how much chestnut； and what amount of red pepper
and other things。 Thank you so much。 I really am going now。〃
Staring round with a vague half…smile at everybody within nodding
distance； Her Serene Highness made one of her characteristic exits；
which Lady Caroline declared always reminded her of a scrambled egg
slipping off a piece of toast。 At the entrance she stopped for a
moment to exchange a word or two with a young man who had just
arrived。 From a corner where he was momentarily hemmed in by a
group of tea…consuming dowagers； Comus recognised the newcomer as
Courtenay Youghal； and began slowly to labour his way towards him。
Youghal was not at the moment the person whose society he most
craved for in the world； but there was at least the possibility
that he might provide an opportunity for a game of bridge； which
was the dominant desire of the moment。 The young politician was
already surrounded by a group of friends and acquaintances； and was
evidently being made the recipient of a salvo of congratulation …
presumably on his recent performances in the Foreign Office debate；
Comus concluded。 But Youghal himself seemed to be announcing the
event with which the congratulations were connected。 Had some
dramatic catastrophe overtaken the Government； Comus wondered。 And
then； as he pressed nearer； a chance word； the coupling of two
names； told him the news。
CHAPTER XI
AFTER the momentous lunch at the Corridor Restaurant Elaine had
returned to Manchester Square （where she was staying with one of
her numerous aunts） in a frame of mind that embraced a tangle of
competing emotions。 In the first place she was conscious of a
dominant feeling of relief； in a moment of impetuosity； not wholly
uninfluenced by pique； she had settled the problem which hours of
hard thinking and serious heart…searching had brought no nearer to
solution； and； although she felt just a little inclined to be
scared at the headlong manner of her final decision； she had now
very little doubt in her own mind that the decision had been the
right one。 In fact the wonder seemed rather that she should have
been so long in doubt as to which of her wooers really enjoyed her
honest approval。 She had been in love； these many weeks past with
an imaginary Comus； but now that she had definitely walked out of
her dreamland she saw that nearly all the qualities that had
appealed to her on his behalf had been absent from； or only
fitfully present in； the character of the real Comus。 And now that
she had installed Youghal in the first place of her affections he
had rapidly acquired in her eyes some of the qualities which ranked
highest in her estimation。 Like the proverbial buyer she had the
happy feminine tendency of magnifying the worth of her possession
as soon as she had acquired it。 And Courtenay Youghal gave Elaine
some justification for her sense of having chosen wisely。 Above
all other things； selfish and cynical though he might appear at
times； he was unfailingly courteous and considerate towards her。
That was a circumstance which would always have carried weight with
her in judging any man； in this case its value was enormously
heightened by contrast with the behaviour of her other wooer。 And
Youghal had in her eyes the advantage which the glamour of combat；
even the combat of words and wire…pulling； throws over the fighter。
He stood well in the forefront of a battle which however carefully
stage…managed； however honeycombed with personal insincerities and
overlaid with calculated mock…heroics； really meant something；
really counted for good or wrong in the nation's development and
the world's history。 Shrewd parliamentary observers might have
warned her that Youghal would never stand much higher in the
political world than he did at present； as a brilliant Opposition
freelance； leading lively and rather meaningless forays against the
dull and rather purposeless foreign policy of a Government that was
scarcely either to be blamed for or congratulated on its handling
of foreign affairs。 The young politician had not the strength of
charact