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ye lights of London town？〃 he quoted； smiling。 And they heard
him close the door of his bedroom； and lock it for the night。
The next morning he bought many geraniums from Prentiss and
placed them along the broad cornice that stretched across the
front of the house over the shop window。 The flowers made a band
of scarlet on either side of the Lion as brilliant as a Tommy's
jacket。
〃I am trying to propitiate the British Lion by placing flowers
before his altar；〃 the American said that morning to a
visitor。
〃The British public you mean；〃 said the visitor； 〃they are each
likely to tear you to pieces。〃
〃Yes； I have heard that the pit on the first night of a bad play
is something awful；〃 hazarded the American。
〃Wait and see；〃 said the visitor。
〃Thank you；〃 said the American； meekly。
Every one who came to the first floor front talked about a play。
It seemed to be something of great moment to the American。 It
was only a bundle of leaves printed in red and black inks and
bound in brown paper covers。 There were two of them； and the
American called them by different names： one was his comedy and
one was his tragedy。
〃They are both likely to be tragedies；〃 the Lion heard one of the
visitors say to another； as they drove away together。 〃Our young
friend takes it too seriously。〃
The American spent most of his time by his desk at the window
writing on little blue pads and tearing up what he wrote； or in
reading over one of the plays to himself in a loud voice。 In
time the number of his visitors increased； and to some of these
he would read his play； and after they had left him he was
either depressed and silent or excited and jubilant。 The Lion
could always tell when he was happy because then he would go to
the side table and pour himself out a drink and say； 〃Here's to
me；〃 but when he was depressed he would stand holding the glass
in his hand； and finally pour the liquor back into the bottle
again and say； 〃What's the use of that？〃
After he had been in London a month he wrote less and was more
frequently abroad； sallying forth in beautiful raiment； and
coming home by daylight。
And he gave suppers too； but they were less noisy than the
Captain's had been； and the women who came to them were much more
beautiful； and their voices when they spoke were sweet and low。
Sometimes one of the women sang； and the men sat in silence while
the people in the street below stopped to listen； and would say；
〃Why； that is So…and…So singing；〃 and the Lion and the Unicorn
wondered how they could know who it was when they could not see
her。
The lodger's visitors came to see him at all hours。 They
seemed to regard his rooms as a club； where they could always
come for a bite to eat or to write notes； and others treated it
like a lawyer's office and asked advice on all manner of strange
subjects。 Sometimes the visitor wanted to know whether the
American thought she ought to take L？0 a week and go on tour； or
stay in town and try to live on L？； or whether she should paint
landscapes that would not sell； or racehorses that would； or
whether Reggie really loved her and whether she really loved
Reggie； or whether the new part in the piece at the Court was
better than the old part at Terry's； and wasn't she getting too
old to play 〃ingenues〃 anyway。
The lodger seemed to be a general adviser； and smoked and
listened with grave consideration； and the Unicorn thought his
judgment was most sympathetic and sensible。
Of all the beautiful ladies who came to call on the lodger the
one the Unicorn liked the best was the one who wanted to know
whether she loved Reggie and whether Reggie loved her。 She
discussed this so interestingly while she consumed tea and
thin slices of bread that the Unicorn almost lost his balance in
leaning forward to listen。 Her name was Marion Cavendish and it
was written over many photographs which stood in silver frames in
the lodger's rooms。 She used to make the tea herself； while the
lodger sat and smoked； and she had a fascinating way of doubling
the thin slices of bread into long strips and nibbling at them
like a mouse at a piece of cheese。 She had wonderful little
teeth and Cupid's…bow lips； and she had a fashion of lifting her
veil only high enough for one to see the two Cupid…bow lips。
When she did that the American used to laugh； at nothing
apparently； and say； 〃Oh； I guess Reggie loves you well enough。〃
〃But do I love Reggie？〃 she would ask sadly； with her tea…cup
held poised in air。
〃 I am sure I hope not；〃 the lodger would reply； and she
would put down the veil quickly； as one would drop a curtain over
a beautiful picture； and rise with great dignity and say； 〃if you
talk like that I shall not come again。〃
She was sure that if she could only get some work to do her
head would be filledwith more important matters than whether
Reggie loved her or not。
〃But the managers seem inclined to cut their cavendish very fine
just at present；〃 she said。 〃If I don't get a part soon；〃 she
announced； 〃I shall ask Mitchell to put me down on the list for
recitations at evening parties。〃
〃That seems a desperate revenge；〃 said the American； 〃and
besides； I don't want you to get a part； because some one might
be idiotic enough to take my comedy； and if he should； you must
play Nancy。〃
〃I would not ask for any salary if I could play Nancy；〃 Miss
Cavendish answered。
They spoke of a great many things； but their talk always ended by
her saying that there must be some one with sufficient sense to
see that his play was a great play； and by his saying that none
but she must play Nancy。
The Lion preferred the tall girl with masses and folds of brown
hair； who came from America to paint miniatures of the British
aristocracy。 Her name was Helen Cabot； and he liked her because
she was so brave and fearless； and so determined to be
independent of every one； even of the lodgerespecially of
the lodger； who it appeared had known her very well at home。 The
lodger； they gathered； did not wish her to be independent of him
and the two Americans had many arguments and disputes about it；
but she always said； 〃It does no good； Philip； it only hurts us
both when you talk so。 I care for nothing； and for no one but my
art； and； poor as it is； it means everything to me； and you do
not； and； of course； the man I am to marry； must。〃 Then Carroll
would talk； walking up and down； and looking very fierce and
determined； and telling her how he loved her in such a way that
it made her look even more proud and beautiful。 And she would
say more gently； 〃It is very fine to think that any one can care
for like that； and very helpful。 But unless I cared in the same
way it would be wicked of me to marry you； and besides〃 She
would add very quickly to prevent his speaking again〃 I don't
want to marry you or anybody； and I never shall。 I want to be
free and to succeed in my work； just as you want to succeed in
your work。 So please never speak of this again。〃 When she
went away the lodger used to sit smoking in the big arm…chair and
beat the arms with his hands； and he would pace up and down the
room