The Ghost: A Modern Fantasy

experience until, in setting myself to recall the various details of the affair, I sudde

aske

theatre seats for t

his lips together and waved hi

hus expressing a sublime pity for the ignorance

bal

e condescen

-ing,

he meant was: "Poor fool! wh

and turned to leave the shop. I suppose he thought that as a

affability. "I had a couple of stalls this morning, but

, are not, after all, the grand masters of the operatic world. I know that that manner of theirs is merely a part of their attire, like their cravats; that they are not really

to the street. Impossible to conceal the fact that I ha

escaping from under his hat, and the hat just a little towards the back of his head, and a pretty good chin, and the pride of life in his ingenuous eye. Quite unaware that he was immature! Quite unaware that the supple curves of his limbs

years, recovered from the reverse inflicted on me by Keith Prowse's clerk). On the opposite side of the street were the rich premises of a well-known theatrical club, whose weekly entertainments had recently acquired fame. I was, I recollect, proud of knowing the identity of the building-it was one of the fe

of beauty and nice poise; the groom a pink and priceless perfection. But the crown and summit of the work was the driver-a youngish gentleman who, from the gloss of his peculiarly shaped collar to the buttons of his diminutive boots, exuded an atmosphere of expense. His gloves, his scarf-pin, his watch-chain, his mustache, his eye-glass, the cre

to turn his eye-glass in my direction. He scanned me carelessly, glanced away, and scanne

I said to myself. "I wonder

the roadway, withdrew it, restored it to

and "My Queen." And he condescended to recognize me! His gestures indicated, in fact, a warm desire to be cousinly. I reached him. Th

g is it?

t," I answered, fee

I punched

was proud that he h

I was years older than you and a foot or so talle

xth-form boy might reg

ny age," I replied. "

rink. Come into the club and partake of a gin-an

pered into the groom's ear he did in fact clear them away. They rattled and jingled off in th

b," said Sullivan. "I don't. I brought the thing along to-day beca

don

eck, "I've sold her the entire bag of tr

ha

r-car,

enturer of romantic tendencies. And Sullivan so deemed himself. The very

you are!" I

r's chair of heliotrope plush. And in the cushioned quietude of the smoking-room, where light-shod acolytes served gin-and-angostura as if serving gin-and-angostura had been a religious rite, Sullivan went through an extraordinary process of unchaining himself. His form seemed to be crossed and re-crossed with chains-gold chains. At

fted his tinted glass of gin-and-angostura, and I, perceiving that such actions were expected of

nd of the great

th you,

we s

wn, and the quarrel had spread, as family quarrels do, like a fire or the measles. The pun

e lightly on them

was so gentle. It hinted that there was more in Sullivan than met the eye, though a great deal met the eye.

ing with conversations. They are almost always frankly and openly interested in themselves, as Sullivan was interested in himself. You may seek to foil them; you may even violen

ullivan was in the ver

t try to be Wagner. I just stuck to Sullivan Smith. And, my boy, let me tell you it's only five years since 'The Japanese Cat' was produced, and I'm only twenty-seven, my boy! And now, who is there that doesn't know me?" He put his elbows on the onyx. "Privately, between cousins, you know, I made seven thousand quid last year, and spent half that. I live on half my income; always have done; always shall. Good

," I

ng w

five hundred each, and Jem's more interested in hunting than in doctori

e I was? Got your d

ly disclaimed being

r sister

ping house

girl, is

doubtfully. "S

ivate music

ty mad on it. I was dead set on hearing Rosetta Rosa in 'Lohengrin' to-night, b

er have dreamt of going. Wagner bores me, though I must say I've got a few tips from him. But when we heard what a rush

I said. "There's only one Smart,

he color of his cheques I reckon it's me. He made me-that I will say; but I made him, too. Queer fellow! Awfully cute of hi

raid I

wish she wasn't. Spiritualism gets on her nerves. I've no use for it myself, but it's her life. It gives her fancies. She got some sort of a silly notion-don't tell her I said this, Carlie-about Rosett

you to offer me a seat

oftly. "Christopher! it's half-past twelve, and I'm d

arm in arm, Sullivan t

, eh? Just ask for my box. You'll f

alke

is voice, "when you meet my wife, don't say anything about her th

course!"

on the back

. But I insist that he was lovable. He had little directly to do with my immense adventure, bu