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down the table。 Shelton himself had given up the effort with his
neighbours； and made love to his dinner； which； surviving the
incoherence of the atmosphere； emerged as a work of art。 It was with
surprise that he found Miss Casserol addressing him。
〃I always say that the great thing is to be jolly。 If you can't find
anything to make you laugh； pretend you do； it's so much 'smarter to
be amusin'。 Now don't you agree？〃
The philosophy seemed excellent。
〃We can't all be geniuses； but we can all look jolly。〃
Shelton hastened to look jolly。
〃I tell the governor； when he 's glum； that I shall put up the
shutters and leave him。 What's the good of mopin' and lookin'
miserable？ Are you going to the Four…in…Hand Meet？ We're making a
party。 Such fun； all the smart people！〃
The splendour of her shoulders； her frizzy hair （clearly not two
hours out of the barber's hands）； might have made him doubtful； but
the frank shrewdness in her eyes； and her carefully clipped tone of
voice； were guarantees that she was part of the element at the table
which was really quite respectable。 He had never realised before how
〃smart〃 she was； and with an effort abandoned himself to a sort of
gaiety that would have killed a Frenchman。
And when she left him； he reflected upon the expression of her eyes
when they rested on a lady opposite； who was a true bird…of…prey。
〃What is it；〃 their envious； inquisitive glance had seemed to say；
〃that makes you so really ' smart'？〃 And while still seeking for the
reason； he noticed his host pointing out the merits of his port to
the hawk…like man； with a deferential air quite pitiful to see； for
the hawk…like man was clearly a 〃bad hat。〃 What in the name of
goodness did these staid bourgeois mean by making up to vice？ Was it
a craving to be thought distinguished； a dread of being dull； or
merely an effect of overfeeding？ Again he looked at his host； who
had not yet enumerated all the virtues of his port； and again felt
sorry for him。
〃So you're going to marry Antonia Dennant？ said a voice on his
right； with that easy coarseness which is a mark of caste。 〃Pretty
girl！ They've a nice place； the； Dennants。 D' ye know； you're a
lucky feller！〃
The speaker was an old baronet； with small eyes； a dusky； ruddy face；
and peculiar hail…fellow…well…met expression； at once morose and sly。
He was always hard up； but being a man of enterprise knew all the
best people； as well as all the worst； so that he dined out every
night。
〃You're a lucky feller；〃 he repeated； 〃he's got some deuced good
shootin'； Dennant！ They come too high for me； though； never touched
a feather last time I shot there。 She's a pretty girl。 You 're a
lucky feller！〃
〃I know that；〃 said Shelton humbly。
〃Wish I were in your shoes。 Who was that sittin' on the other side
of you？ I'm so dashed short…sighted。 Mrs。 Carruther？ Oh； ay！〃 An
expression which； if he had not been a baronet； would have been a
leer； came on his lips。
Shelton felt that he was referring to the leaf in his mental pocket…
book covered with the anecdotes； figures； and facts about that lady。
〃The old ogre means；〃 thought he； 〃that I'm lucky because his leaf is
blank about Antonia。〃 But the old baronet had turned； with his
smile； and his sardonic； well…bred air； to listen to a bit of scandal
on the other side。
The two men to Shelton's left were talking。
〃What！ You don't collect anything？ How's that？ Everybody collects
something。 I should be lost without my pictures。〃
〃No； I don't collect anything。 Given it up； I was too awfully had
over my Walkers。〃
Shelton had expected a more lofty reason； he applied himself to the
Madeira in his glass。 That； had been 〃collected〃 by his host； and
its price was going up！ You couldn't get it every day； worth two
guineas a bottle！ How precious the idea that other people couldn't
get it； made it seem！ Liquid delight； the price was going up！ Soon
there would be none left； immense！ Absolutely no one； then； could
drink it！
〃Wish I had some of this；〃 said the old baronet； 〃but I have drunk
all mine。〃
〃Poor old chap！〃 thought Shelton； 〃after all； he's not a bad old
boy。 I wish I had his pluck。 His liver must be splendid。〃
The drawing…room was full of people playing a game concerned with
horses ridden by jockeys with the latest seat。 And Shelton was
compelled to help in carrying on this sport till early in the
morning。 At last he left； exhausted by his animation。
He thought of the wedding； he thought over his dinner and the wine
that he had drunk。 His mood of satisfaction fizzled out。 These
people were incapable of being real； even the smartest； even the most
respectable； they seemed to weigh their pleasures in the scales and
to get the most that could be gotten for their money。
Between the dark； safe houses stretching for miles and miles； his
thoughts were of Antonia； and as he reached his rooms he was
overtaken by the moment when the town is born again。 The first new
air had stolen down； the sky was living； but not yet alight； the
trees were quivering faintly； no living creature stirred； and nothing
spoke except his heart。 Suddenly the city seemed to breathe； and
Shelton saw that he was not alone； an unconsidered trifle with
inferior boots was asleep upon his doorstep。
CHAPTER X
AN ALIEN
The individual on the doorstep had fallen into slumber over his own
knees。 No greater air of prosperity clung about him than is conveyed
by a rusty overcoat and wisps of cloth in place of socks。 Shelton
endeavoured to pass unseen； but the sleeper woke。
〃Ah； it's you； monsieur！〃 he said 〃I received your letter this
evening； and have lost no time。〃 He looked down at himself and
tittered； as though to say； 〃But what a state I 'm in！〃
The young foreigner's condition was indeed more desperate than on the
occasion of their first meeting； and Shelton invited him upstairs。
〃You can well understand；〃 stammered Ferrand； following his host；
〃that I did n't want to miss you this time。 When one is like this〃
and a spasm gripped his face。
〃I 'm very glad you came；〃 said Shelton doubtfully。
His visitor's face had a week's growth of reddish beard； the deep tan
of his cheeks gave him a robust appearance at variance with the fit
of； trembling which had seized on him as soon as he had entered。
〃Sit down…sit down；〃 said Shelton； 〃you 're feeling ill！〃
Ferrand smiled。 〃It's nothing；〃 said he； 〃bad nourishment。〃
Shelton left him seated on the edge of an armchair； and brought him
in some whisky。
〃Clothes；〃 said Ferrand； when he had drunk； 〃are what I want。 These
are really not good enough。〃
The statement was correct； and Shelton； placing some garments in the
bath…room； invited his visitor to make himself at home。 While the
latter； then； was doing this； Shelton enjoyed the luxurie