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shroud…like dust…cloths were being swaythed over the ornamental
gilt…work。 The laughing； chattering； yawning throng had filtered
out of the vestibule； and was melting away in final groups from the
steps of the theatre。 An impatient attendant gave him his coat and
locked up the cloak room。 Comus stepped out under the portico； he
looked at the posters announcing the play； and in anticipation he
could see other posters announcing its 200th performance。 Two
hundred performances； by that time the Straw Exchange Theatre would
be to him something so remote and unreal that it would hardly seem
to exist or to have ever existed except in his fancy。 And to the
laughing chattering throng that would pass in under that portico to
the 200th performance； he would be； to those that had known him；
something equally remote and non…existent。 〃The good…looking
Bassington boy？ Oh； dead； or rubber…growing or sheep…farming or
something of that sort。〃
CHAPTER XIV
THE farewell dinner which Francesca had hurriedly organised in
honour of her son's departure threatened from the outset to be a
doubtfully successful function。 In the first place； as he observed
privately； there was very little of Comus and a good deal of
farewell in it。 His own particular friends were unrepresented。
Courtenay Youghal was out of the question； and though Francesca
would have stretched a point and welcomed some of his other male
associates of whom she scarcely approved； he himself had been
opposed to including any of them in the invitations。 On the other
hand； as Henry Greech had provided Comus with this job that he was
going out to； and was； moreover； finding part of the money for the
necessary outfit； Francesca had felt it her duty to ask him and his
wife to the dinner； the obtuseness that seems to cling to some
people like a garment throughout their life had caused Mr。 Greech
to accept the invitation。 When Comus heard of the circumstance he
laughed long and boisterously； his spirits； Francesca noted； seemed
to be rising fast as the hour for departure drew near。
The other guests included Serena Golackly and Lady Veula； the
latter having been asked on the inspiration of the moment at the
theatrical first…night。 In the height of the Season it was not
easy to get together a goodly selection of guests at short notice；
and Francesca had gladly fallen in with Serena's suggestion of
bringing with her Stephen Thorle； who was alleged； in loose
feminine phrasing； to 〃know all about〃 tropical Africa。 His
travels and experiences in those regions probably did not cover
much ground or stretch over any great length of time； but he was
one of those individuals who can describe a continent on the
strength of a few days' stay in a coast town as intimately and
dogmatically as a paleontologist will reconstruct an extinct mammal
from the evidence of a stray shin bone。 He had the loud
penetrating voice and the prominent penetrating eyes of a man who
can do no listening in the ordinary way and whose eyes have to
perform the function of listening for him。 His vanity did not
necessarily make him unbearable； unless one had to spend much time
in his society； and his need for a wide field of audience and
admiration was mercifully calculated to spread his operations over
a considerable human area。 Moreover； his craving for attentive
listeners forced him to interest himself in a wonderful variety of
subjects on which he was able to discourse fluently and with a
certain semblance of special knowledge。 Politics he avoided； the
ground was too well known； and there was a definite no to every
definite yes that could be put forward。 Moreover； argument was not
congenial to his disposition； which preferred an unchallenged flow
of dissertation modified by occasional helpful questions which
formed the starting point for new offshoots of word…spinning。 The
promotion of cottage industries； the prevention of juvenile street
trading； the extension of the Borstal prison system； the
furtherance of vague talkative religious movements the fostering of
inter…racial ENTENTES； all found in him a tireless exponent； a
fluent and entertaining； though perhaps not very convincing；
advocate。 With the real motive power behind these various causes
he was not very closely identified； to the spade…workers who
carried on the actual labours of each particular movement he bore
the relation of a trowel…worker； delving superficially at the
surface； but able to devote a proportionately far greater amount of
time to the advertisement of his progress and achievements。 Such
was Stephen Thorle； a governess in the nursery of Chelsea…bred
religions； a skilled window…dresser in the emporium of his own
personality； and needless to say； evanescently popular amid a wide
but shifting circle of acquaintances。 He improved on the record of
a socially much…travelled individual whose experience has become
classical； and went to most of the best houses … twice。
His inclusion as a guest at this particular dinner…party was not a
very happy inspiration。 He was inclined to patronise Comus； as
well as the African continent； and on even slighter acquaintance。
With the exception of Henry Greech； whose feelings towards his
nephew had been soured by many years of overt antagonism； there was
an uncomfortable feeling among those present that the topic of the
black…sheep export trade； as Comus would have himself expressed it；
was being given undue prominence in what should have been a festive
farewell banquet。 And Comus； in whose honour the feast was given；
did not contribute much towards its success； though his spirits
seemed strung up to a high pitch his merriment was more the
merriment of a cynical and amused onlooker than of one who responds
to the gaiety of his companions。 Sometimes he laughed quietly to
himself at some chance remark of a scarcely mirth…provoking nature；
and Lady Veula； watching him narrowly； came to the conclusion that
an element of fear was blended with his seemingly buoyant spirits。
Once or twice he caught her eye across the table； and a certain
sympathy seemed to grow up between them； as though they were both
consciously watching some lugubrious comedy that was being played
out before them。
An untoward little incident had marked the commencement of the
meal。 A small still…life picture that hung over the sideboard had
snapped its cord and slid down with an alarming clatter on to the
crowded board beneath it。 The picture itself was scarcely damaged；
but its fall had been accompanied by a tinkle of broken glass； and
it was found that a liqueur glass； one out of a set of seven that
would be impossible to match； had been shivered into fragments。
Francesca's almost motherly love for her possessions made her
peculiarly sensible to a feeling of annoyance and depression at the