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H. Stackton Dunckley looked up from his pillow as the man-servant who valeted for the gentlemen of the Jermyn Street Chambers drew aside a gray curtain and displayed the gray blanket of the atmosphere outside. 'Good-morning, Watson, said Mr.
'My dear, said Lady Durwent, glancing at her daughter, who was reading a novel, 'hadn't you better go and dress? 'Is there a dinner-party to-night? asked the girl without looking up. 'Of course, Elise. Have you forgotten that Mr. Selwyn of New York will be here? 'Is he as tedious as Stackton Dunckley? Lady Durwent frowned with vexation. 'My dear, she said, 'you are very trying.
H. Stackton Dunckley protested that absence from the ladies, even for so short a time, would completely spoil his evening receiving in reward a languorous glance from Lady Durwent. Johnston Smyth, who had done more than ample justice to the wines, offered to 'pink' at fifty yards any man who would consider the proposition for a moment.
Until Friday, 'P.S. How is the play coming on? Dinner will be at 8.30. H. Stackton Dunckley put the letter down and sighed. He was an author who had been writing other men's ideas all his life, but without sufficient distinction to achieve either a success or a failure.
H. Stackton Dunckley lit a cigarette, opened the first letter, and read it. 'MY DEAR STACKY, Next Friday I am giving a little dinner-party just a few unusual people to meet an American author who has recently come to England. Do come; but, you brilliant man, don't be too caustic, will you? 'Isn't it dreadful the way gossip is connecting our names? Supposing Lord Durwent should hear about it!
Some Austrian diplomat has been jilted for a Servian, I suppose. Isn't that the way wars always happen? and she sighed heavily, recalling to her mind the classic features of H. Stackton Dunckley. 'That's what I say, said the bright youth of the morning splendour. 'Why make a horse cross a bridge if it won't drink? Here goes heads, a European war; tails, another thousand years of peace.
Jennings, not deigning the artist so much as a glance, 'skimming the earth of its surface riches, and rendering every place the poorer for his being there. There was an awesome silence, which no one seemed courageous enough to break. 'Yes, said H. Stackton Dunckley finally, 'and in addition England is decadent. 'But, Mr.
'All decadent nations, said H. Stackton Dunckley, 'produce beautiful women it is one of the surest signs that they are going to pieces. The Romans did at the last, and Rome and England are parallel cases. As Mrs. Le Roy Jennings says, they are parasitic nations. What did the Romans add to Greek art?
'Discreet, she coquetted. 'People will talk. 'Let them, said Mr. Dunckley earnestly. 'Madame Carlotti, I think you know Mr. Dunckley H. Stackton Dunckley and you too, Mrs. Le Roy Jennings; you clever people ought to be friends at once. And I want you to meet Mr. Pyford, the' 'Hah d'ye do? 'How are you? 'Ro splendid, thanks. 'We were discussing, said Lady Durwent 'discussing'
How could one doubt the character of a man so dull? Undiscouraged, they still maintained their perfectly innocent friendship, and, like kittens playing with a spool, invested it with all the appearances of an intrigue. Dismissing his depressing thoughts, H. Stackton Dunckley noticed that his cigarette was out, and closing his eyes, fell asleep once more.
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