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〃The senator says you are to come this way； sir；〃 the servant
directed。 He took Arkwright's valise from his hand and parted
the heavy curtains that hid the dining…room； and Arkwright
stepped in between them and then stopped in some embarrassment。
He found himself in the presence of a number of gentlemen seated
at a long dinner…table； who turned their heads as he entered and
peered at him through the smoke that floated in light layers
above the white cloth。 The dinner had been served； but the
senator's guests still sat with their chairs pushed back from a
table lighted by candles under yellow shades； and covered with
beautiful flowers and with bottles of varied sizes in stands of
quaint and intricate design。 Senator Stanton's tall figure
showed dimly through the smoke； and his deep voice hailed
Arkwright cheerily from the farther end of the room。 〃This way；
Mr。 Arkwright；〃 he said。 〃I have a chair waiting for you here。〃
He grasped Arkwright's hand warmly and pulled him into the vacant
place at his side。 An elderly gentleman on Arkwright's other
side moved to make more room for him and shoved a liqueur glass
toward him with a friendly nod and pointed at an open box of
cigars。 He was a fine…looking man； and Arkwright noticed that he
was regarding him with a glance of the keenest interest。 All of
those at the table were men of twice Arkwright's age； except
Livingstone； whom he recognized and who nodded to him pleasantly
and at the same time gave an order to a servant； pointing at
Arkwright as he did so。 Some of the gentlemen wore their
business suits； and one opposite Arkwright was still in his
overcoat； and held his hat in his hand。 These latter seemed to
have arrived after the dinner had begun； for they formed a second
line back of those who had places at the table； they all seemed
to know one another and were talking with much vivacity and
interest。
Stanton did not attempt to introduce Arkwright to his guests
individually； but said： 〃Gentlemen； this is Mr。 Arkwright； of
whom I have been telling you； the young gentleman who has done
such magnificent work for the cause of Cuba。〃 Those who caught
Arkwright's eye nodded to him； and others raised their glasses at
him； but with a smile that he could not understand。 It was as
though they all knew something concerning him of which he was
ignorant。 He noted that the faces of some were strangely
familiar； and he decided that he must have seen their portraits
in the public prints。 After he had introduced Arkwright； the
senator drew his chair slightly away from him and turned in what
seemed embarrassment to the man on his other side。 The
elderly gentleman next to Arkwright filled his glass； a servant
placed a small cup of coffee at his elbow； and he lit a cigar and
looked about him。
〃You must find this weather very trying after the tropics；〃 his
neighbor said。
Arkwright assented cordially。 The brandy was flowing through his
veins and warming him； he forgot that he was hungry； and the
kind； interested glances of those about him set him at his ease。
It was a propitious start； he thought； a pleasant leave…taking
for the senator and himself； full of good will and good wishes。
He turned toward Stanton and waited until he had ceased speaking。
〃The papers have begun well； haven't they？〃 he asked； eagerly。
He had spoken in a low voice； almost in a whisper； but those
about the table seemed to have heard him； for there was silence
instantly and when he glanced up he saw the eyes of all turned
upon him and he noticed on their faces the same smile he had seen
there when he entered。
〃Yes；〃 Stanton answered constrainedly。 〃Yes； I〃 he
lowered his voice； but the silence still continued。 Stanton had
his eyes fixed on the table； but now he frowned and half rose
from his chair。
〃I want to speak with you； Arkwright；〃 he said。 〃Suppose we go
into the next room。 I'll be back in a moment；〃 he added； nodding
to the others。
But the man on his right removed his cigar from his lips and said
in an undertone； 〃No； sit down； stay where you are；〃 and the
elderly gentleman at Arkwright's side laid his hand detainingly
on his arm。 〃Oh； you won't take Mr。 Arkwright away from us；
Stanton？〃 he asked； smiling。
Stanton shrugged his shoulders and sat down again； and there was
a moment's pause。 It was broken by the man in the overcoat； who
laughed。
〃He's paying you a compliment； Mr。 Arkwright；〃 he said。 He
pointed with his cigar to the gentleman at Arkwright's side。
〃I don't understand；〃 Arkwright answered doubtfully。
〃It's a compliment to your eloquencehe's afraid to leave you
alone with the senator。 Livingstone's been telling us that
you are a better talker than Stanton。〃 Arkwright turned a
troubled countenance toward the men about the table； and then
toward Livingstone； but that young man had his eyes fixed gravely
on the glasses before him and did not raise them。
Arkwright felt a sudden； unreasonable fear of the circle of
strong…featured； serene and confident men about him。 They seemed
to be making him the subject of a jest； to be enjoying something
among themselves of which he was in ignorance； but which
concerned him closely。 He turned a white face toward Stanton。
〃You don't mean；〃 he began piteously； 〃thatthat you are not
going？ Is that ittell meis that what you wanted to say？〃
Stanton shifted in his chair and muttered some words between his
lips； then turned toward Arkwright and spoke quite clearly and
distinctly。
〃I am very sorry； Mr。 Arkwright；〃 he said； 〃but I am afraid I'll
have to disappoint you。 Reasons I cannot now explain have arisen
which make my going impossiblequite impossible；〃 he added
firmly〃not only now； but later；〃 he went on quickly； as
Arkwright was about to interrupt him。
Arkwright made no second attempt to speak。 He felt the muscles
of his face working and the tears coming to his eyes； and to hide
his weakness he twisted in his chair and sat staring ahead of him
with his back turned to the table。 He heard Livingstone's voice
break the silence with some hurried question； and immediately his
embarrassment was hidden in a murmur of answers and the moving of
glasses as the men shifted in their chairs and the laughter and
talk went on as briskly as before。 Arkwright saw a sideboard
before him and a servant arranging some silver on one of the
shelves。 He watched the man do this with a concentrated interest
as though the dull； numbed feeling in his brain caught at the
trifle in order to put off； as long as possible； the
consideration of the truth。
And then beyond the sideboard and the tapestry on the wall above
it； he saw the sun shining down upon the island of Cuba； he saw
the royal palms waving and bending； the dusty columns of
Spanish infantry crawling along the white roads and leaving
blazing huts and smoking cane…fields in their wake； he saw
skeletons of men and women seeking for food among the refuse of
the street； he heard the order given to the firing squad； the
splash of the bullets as they scattered the plaster on the prison
wall； and he saw a kneeling figure pitch forward on its face；
with a useless bandage