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among the jostling ranks of those who enjoyed prosperity or struggled
for it。 He had failed in a more subtle ambition； and for the moment he
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was heartsore and disillusionised； and not disinclined to take a certain
cynical pleasure in observing and labelling his fellow wanderers as they
went their ways in the dark stretches between the lamp…lights。
On the bench by his side sat an elderly gentleman with a drooping
air of defiance that was probably the remaining vestige of self…respect in
an individual who had ceased to defy successfully anybody or anything。
His clothes could scarcely be called shabby； at least they passed muster
in the half…light； but one's imagination could not have pictured the
wearer embarking on the purchase of a half…crown box of chocolates or
laying out ninepence on a carnation buttonhole。 He belonged
unmistakably to that forlorn orchestra to whose piping no one dances； he
was one of the world's lamenters who induce no responsive weeping。
As he rose to go Gortsby imagined him returning to a home circle where
he was snubbed and of no account； or to some bleak lodging where his
ability to pay a weekly bill was the beginning and end of the interest he
inspired。 His retreating figure vanished slowly into the shadows； and
his place on the bench was taken almost immediately by a young man；
fairly well dressed but scarcely more cheerful of mien than his
predecessor。 As if to emphasise the fact that the world went badly with
him the new…corner unburdened himself of an angry and very audible
expletive as he flung himself into the seat。
〃You don't seem in a very good temper；〃 said Gortsby； judging that
he was expected to take due notice of the demonstration。
The young man turned to him with a look of disarming frankness
which put him instantly on his guard。
〃You wouldn't be in a good temper if you were in the fix I'm in；〃 he
said； 〃I've done the silliest thing I've ever done in my life。〃
〃Yes？〃 said Gortsby dispassionately。
〃Came up this afternoon； meaning to stay at the Patagonian Hotel in
Berkshire Square；〃 continued the young man； 〃when I got there I found
it had been pulled down some weeks ago and a cinema theatre run up on
the site。 The taxi driver recommended me to another hotel some way
off and I went there。 I just sent a letter to my people； giving them the
address； and then I went out to buy some soap … I'd forgotten to pack any
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and I hate using hotel soap。 Then I strolled about a bit； had a drink at
a bar and looked at the shops； and when I came to turn my steps back to
the hotel I suddenly realised that I didn't remember its name or even
what street it was in。 There's a nice predicament for a fellow who
hasn't any friends or connections in London！ Of course I can wire to
my people for the address； but they won't have got my letter till to…
morrow； meantime I'm without any money； came out with about a
shilling on me； which went in buying the soap and getting the drink； and
here I am； wandering about with twopence in my pocket and nowhere
to go for the night。〃
There was an eloquent pause after the story had been told。 〃I
suppose you think I've spun you rather an impossible yarn；〃 said the
young man presently；with a suggestion of resentment in his voice。
〃Not at all impossible；〃 said Gortsby judicially； 〃I remember doing
exactly the same thing once in a foreign capital； and on that occasion
there were two of us； which made it more remarkable。 Luckily we
remembered that the hotel was on a sort of canal； and when we struck
the canal we were able to find our way back to the hotel。〃
The youth brightened at the reminiscence。 〃In a foreign city I
wouldn't mind so much；〃 he said； 〃one could go to one's Consul and get
the requisite help from him。 Here in one's own land one is far more
derelict if one gets into a fix。 Unless I can find some decent chap to
swallow my story and lend me some money I seem likely to spend the
night on the Embankment。 I'm glad； anyhow； that you don't think the
story outrageously improbable。〃
He threw a good deal of warmth into the last remark； as though
perhaps to indicate his hope that Gortsby did not fall far short of the
requisite decency。
〃Of course；〃 said Gortsby slowly； 〃the weak point of your story is
that you can't produce the soap。〃
The young man sat forward hurriedly； felt rapidly in the pockets of
his overcoat； and then jumped to his feet。
〃I must have lost it；〃 he muttered angrily。
〃To lose an hotel and a cake of soap on one afternoon suggests wilful
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carelessness；〃 said Gortsby； but the young man scarcely waited to hear
the end of the remark。 He flitted away down the path； his head held
high； with an air of somewhat jaded jauntiness。
〃It was a pity；〃 mused Gortsby； 〃the going out to get one's own soap
was the one convincing touch in the whole story； and yet it was just that
little detail that brought him to grief。 If he had had the brilliant
forethought to provide himself with a cake of soap； wrapped and sealed
with all the solicitude of the chemist's counter； he would have been a
genius in his particular line。 In his particular line genius certainly
consists of an infinite capacity for taking precautions。〃
With that reflection Gortsby rose to go； as he did so an exclamation