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'Well； he did most of the talking。 Tell me； did you know him at Eton？'
'He was sacked my first half。 I remember seeing him about。 He always has been a noticeable figure。'
'Did he go to church with you？'
'I don't think so； why？'
'Has he met any of your family？'
'Charles； how very peculiar you're being today。 No。 I don't suppose so。
'Not your mother at Venice？'
'I believe she did say something about it。 I forget what。 I think she was staying with some Italian cousins of ours； the Foglieres； and Anthony turned up with his family at the hotel； and there was some party the Foglieres gave that they weren't asked to。 I know Mummy said something about it when I told her he was a friend of mine。 I can't think why he should want to go to a party at the Foglieres … the princess is so proud of her English blood that she talks of nothing else。 Anyway； no one objected to Antoine … much； I gather。 It was his mother they thought difficult。'
'And who is the Duchesse of Vincennes？'
'Poppy？'
'Stefanie。'
'You must ask Antoine that。 He claims to have had an affair with her。'
'Did he？'
'I dare say。 I think it's more or less pulsory at Cannes。 Why all this interest？'
'I just wanted to find out how much truth there was in what Anthony said last night。'
'I shouldn't； think a word。 That's his great charm。'
'You may think it charming。 I think it's devilish。 Do you know he spent the whole of yesterday evening trying to turn me against you； and almost succeeded？'
'Did he？ How silly。 Aloysius wouldn't approve of that at all； would you； you pompous old bear？'
And then Boy Mulcaster came into the room。
＇3＇
I RETURNED home for the Long Vacation without plans and without money。 To cover end…of…term expenses I had sold my Omega screen to Collins for ten pounds； of which I now kept four； my last cheque overdrew my account my a few shillings； and I had been told that； without my father's authority； I must draw no more。 My next allowance was not due until October。 I was thus faced with a bleak prospect and； turning the matter over in my mind； I felt something not far off remorse for the prodigality；of the preceding weeks。
I had started the term with my battels paid and over a hundred pounds in hand。 All that had gone； and not a penny paid out where I could get credit。 There had been no reason for it； no great pleasure unattainable else； it had gone in ducks and drakes。 Sebastian used to tease me … 'You spend money； like a bookie' … but all of it went on and with him。 His own finances were perpetually； vaguely distressed。 'It's all done by lawyers；' he said helplessly； 'and I suppose they embezzle a lot。 Anyway； I never seem to get much。 Of course； mummy would give me anything I asked for。'
'Then why don't you ask her for a proper allowance？'
'Oh； mummy likes everything to be a present。 She's so sweet；' he said； adding one more line to the picture I was forming of her。
Now Sebastian had disappeared into that other life of his where I was not asked to follow； and I was left； instead； forlorn and regretful。
How ungenerously in later life we disclaim the virtuous moods of our youth； living in retrospect long； summer days of unreflecting dissipation。 There is no candour in a story of early manhood which leaves out of account the home…sickness for nursery morality； the regrets and resolutions of amendment； the black hours which； like zero on the roulette table； turn up with roughly calculable regularity。
Thus I spent the first afternoon at home； wandering from room to room； looking from the plate…glass windows in turn on the garden and the street； in a mood of vehement self…reproach。
My father； I knew； was in the house； but his library was inviolable； and it was not until just before dinner that he appeared to greet me。 He was then in his late fifties； but it was his idiosyncrasy to seem much older than his years； to see him one might have put him at seventy； to hear him speak at nearly eighty。 He came to me now； with the shuffling； mandarin…tread which he affected； and a shy smile of wele。 When he dined at home … and he seldom dined elsewhere … he wore a frogged velvet smoking suit of the kind which had been fashionable many years before and was to be so again； but； at that time； was a deliberate archaism。
'My dear boy； I they never told me you were here。' Did you have a very exhausting journey？ They gave you tea？ You are well？ I have just made a somewhat audacious I purchase from Sonerscheins … a terra…cotta bull of the fifth century。 I was examining it and forgot your arrival。 Was the carriage very full？ You had a corner seat？ （He travelled so rarely himself that to hear of others doing so always excited his solicitude。） 'Hayter brought you the evening paper？ There is no news； of course … such a lot of nonsense。'
Dinner was announced。 My father from long habit took a book with him to the table and then； remembering my presence； furtively dropped it under his chair。 'What do you like to drink？ Hayter； what have we for Mr Charles to drink？'
'There's some whisky。'
'There's whisky。 Perhaps you like something； else？ What else have we？'
'There isn't anything else in the house； sir。'
'There's nothing else。 You must tell Hayter what you would like and he will get it in。 I never keep any wine now。 I am forbidden it and no one es to see me。 But while you are here； you must have what you like。 You are here for long。？'
'I'm not quite sure； father。'
'It's a very long vacation；' he said wistfully。 'In my day we used to go on what were called reading parties； always in mountainous areas。 Why？。 Why；' he repeated petulantly； 'should alpine scenery be thought conducive to study？'
'I thought of putting in some time at an art school … in the life class。'
'My dear boy； you'll find them all shut。 The students go to Barbizon or such places and paint in the open air。 There was an institution in my day called a 〃sketching club〃' … mixed sexes' （snuffle）； 'bicycles' （snuffle）； 'pepper…and…salt knickerbockers； holland umbrellas； and； it was popularly thought； free love' （snuffle）； such a lot of nonsense。 I expect they still go on。 You might try that。'
'One of the problems of the vacation is money； father。'
'Oh； I shouldn't worry about a thing like that at your age。'
'You see； I've run rather short。'
'Yes？' said my father without any sound of interest。
'In fact I don't quite know how I'm going to get through the next two months。'
'Well； I'm the worst person to e to for advice。 I've never been 〃short〃 as you so painfully call it。 And yet what else could you say？ Hard up？ Penurious？ Distressed？ Embarrassed？ Stonybroke？' （snuffle）。 'On the rocks？ In Queer Street？ Let us say you are in Queer Street and leave it at that。 Your grandfather once said to me； 〃Live within your means； but if you do get into difficulties； e to me。 Don't go to the Jews。〃 Such a lot of nonsense。 You try。 Go to those gentlemen in Jermyn Street who offer advances on note of hand only。 My dear boy； they won't give you a sovereign。'
'Then what do you suggest my doing？'
'Your cousin Melchior was imprudent with his investments and got into a very queer street。 He went to Australia。' I had not seen my father so gleeful since he found two pages of second…century papyrus between the leaves of a Lombardic breviary。
'Hayter； I've dropped my book。'
It was recovered for him from under his feet and propped against the 閜ergne。 For the rest of dinner he was silent save for an occasional snuffle of merriment which could not； I thought be provoked by the work he read。
Presently we left the table and sat in I the garden…room； and there； plainly； he put me out of his mind； his thoughts； I knew； were far away； in those distant ages where he moved at ease； where time passed in centuries and all the figures were defaced and the names of his panions were corrupt readings of words of quite other meaning。 He sat in an attitude which to anyone else would have been one of extreme disfort； askew in his upright armchair； with his book held high and obliquely to the light。 Now and then he took a gold pencil…case from his wa