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freckled man； an older man sat next him； square…jawed； with an
absent…looking eye and sharpened nose； next him； again； there was a
bearded person whom they seemed to call the Commodore； in the fourth；
to his alarm； Shelton recognised the gentleman called Mabbey。 It was
really no matter for surprise to meet him miles from his own place；
for he was one of those who wander with a valet and two guns from the
twelfth of August to the end of January； and are then supposed to go
to Monte Carlo or to sleep until the twelfth of August comes again。
He was speaking。
〃Did you hear what a bag we made on the twelfth； Sir James？〃
〃Ah！ yes； what was that？ Have you sold your bay horse； Glennie？〃
Shelton had not decided whether or no to sneak away； when the
Commodore's thick voice began：
〃My man tellsh me that Mrs。 Foliothawhas lamed her Arab。 Does
she mean to come out cubbing？〃
Shelton observed the smile that came on all their faces。 〃Foliot 's
paying for his good time now； what a donkey to get caught！〃 it seemed
to say。 He turned his back and shut his eyes。
〃Cubbing？〃 replied Glennie； 〃hardly。〃
〃Never could shee anything wonderful in her looks；〃 went on the
Commodore； 〃so quiet； you never knew that she was in the room。 I
remember sayin' to her once； 〃Mrs。 Lutheran； now what do you like
besht in all the world？ and what do you think she answered？ 'Music！'
Haw！〃
The voice of Mabbey said：
〃He was always a dark horse； Foliot： It 's always the dark horses
that get let in for this kind of thing〃； and there was a sound as
though he licked his lips。
〃They say；〃 said the voice of the host； 〃he never gives you back a
greeting now。 Queer fish； they say that she's devoted to him。〃
Coming so closely on his meeting with this lady； and on the dream
from which he had awakened； this conversation mesmerised the listener
behind the hedge。
〃If he gives up his huntin' and his shootin'； I don't see what the
deuce he 'll do； he's resigned his clubs； as to his chance of
Parliament…〃 said the voice of Mabbey。
〃Thousand pities；〃 said Sir James； 〃still； he knew what to expect。〃
〃Very queer fellows； those Foliots；〃 said the Commodore。 〃There was
his father： he 'd always rather talk to any scarecrow he came across
than to you or me。 Wonder what he'll do with all his horses； I
should like that chestnut of his。〃
〃You can't tell what a fellow 'll do；〃 said the voice of Mabbey
〃take to drink or writin' books。 Old Charlie Wayne came to gazin' at
stars； and twice a week he used to go and paddle round in
Whitechapel； teachin' pothooks〃
〃Glennie；〃 said Sir James； 〃what 's become of Smollett； your old
keeper？〃
〃Obliged to get rid of him。〃 Shelton tried again to close his ears；
but again he listened。 〃Getting a bit too old； lost me a lot of eggs
last season。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the Commodore； 〃when they oncesh begin to lose eggsh 〃
〃As a matter of fact； his sonyou remember him； Sir James； he used
to load for you？got a girl into trouble； when her people gave her
the chuck old Smollet took her in； beastly scandal it made； too。 The
girl refused to marry Smollett； and old Smollett backed her up。
Naturally； the parson and the village cut up rough； my wife offered
to get her into one of those reformatory what…d' you…call…'ems； but
the old fellow said she should n't go if she did n't want to。 Bad
business altogether； put him quite off his stroke。 I only got five
hundred pheasants last year instead of eight。〃
There was a silence。 Shelton again peeped through the hedge。 All
were eating pie。
〃In Warwickshire；〃 said the Commodore； 〃they always marryhawand
live reshpectable ever after。〃
〃Quite so；〃 remarked the host； 〃it was a bit too thick； her refusing
to marry him。 She said he took advantage of her。〃
〃She's sorry by this time；〃 said Sir James； 〃lucky escape for young
Smollett。 Queer； the obstinacy of some of these old fellows！〃
〃What are we doing after lunch？〃 asked the Commodore。
〃The next field；〃 said the host； 〃is pasture。 We line up along the
hedge； and drive that mustard towards the roots； there ought to be a
good few birds。〃
〃Shelton rose； and； crouching； stole softly to the gate：
〃On the twelfth； shootin' in two parties；〃 followed the voice of
Mabbey from the distance。
Whether from his walk or from his sleepless night； Shelton seemed to
ache in every limb； but he continued his tramp along the road。 He
was no nearer to deciding what to do。 It was late in the afternoon
when he reached Maidenhead； and； after breaking fast； got into a
London train and went to sleep。 At ten o'clock that evening he
walked into St。 James's Park and there sat down。
The lamplight dappled through the tired foliage on to these benches
which have rested many vagrants。 Darkness has ceased to be the
lawful cloak of the unhappy； but Mother Night was soft and moonless；
and man had not despoiled her of her comfort； quite。
Shelton was not alone upon the seat； for at the far end was sitting a
young girl with a red； round； sullen face； and beyond； and further
still； were dim benches and dim figures sitting on them； as though
life's institutions had shot them out in an endless line of rubbish。
〃Ah！〃 thought Shelton； in the dreamy way of tired people； 〃the
institutions are all right； it's the spirit that's all…〃
〃Wrong？〃 said a voice behind him； 〃why； of course！ You've taken the
wrong turn； old man。〃
He saw a policeman； with a red face shining through the darkness；
talking to a strange old figure like some aged and dishevelled bird。
〃Thank you； constable；〃 the old man said； 〃as I've come wrong I'll
take a rest。〃 Chewing his gums； he seemed to fear to take the
liberty of sitting down。
Shelton made room； and the old fellow took the vacant place。
〃You'll excuse me； sir； I'm sure；〃 he said in shaky tones； and
snatching at his battered hat； 〃I see you was a gentleman〃and
lovingly he dwelt upon the word〃would n't disturb you for the
world。 I'm not used to being out at night； and the seats do get so
full。 Old age must lean on something； you'll excuse me； sir； I 'm
sure。〃
〃Of course；〃 said Shelton gently。
〃I'm a respectable old man； really；〃 said his neighbour； 〃I never
took a liberty in my life。 But at my age； sir； you get nervous；
standin' about the streets as I been this last week； an' sleepin' in
them doss…housesOh； they're dreadful rough placesa dreadful rough
lot there！ Yes；〃 the old man said again； as Shelton turned to look
at him； struck by the real self…pity in his voice； 〃dreadful rough
places！〃
A movement of his head； which grew on a lean； plucked neck like that
of an old fowl； had brought his face into the light。 It was long；
and run to seed； and had a large； red nose； its thin； colourless lips
were twisted sideways and apart； showing his semi…toothless mouth；
and his eyes had that aged look