The Parts Men Play

equently ministered. She was a descendant of the French, that race which makes everything tend towards development of the soul, and consequently looks

otent wines (gazing with long-necked dignity at the autocratic whisky-decanter), rapi

Pyford, while the Honourable Miss Durwent sat helplessly between them, with as little chance of asserting her rights as the Dormouse at the Mad Hatter's tea-party. The American had held his own in badinage wi

'-she opened the caverns of her throat, producing a volume that instantly silenced every one-'SHALL WE HAVE COFFE

ady 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

to hear what Mr. Selwyn thinks of England, so I think w

ponding niceties of 'Just one, please,' 'Well, perhaps a cigarette might be enjoyable,' 'I know men like a cigar,' 'After you, old man,' and al

atures, merely glancing from one to another, momentarily interested or openly bored. Several times the American had looked furtively at the arresting face, marred by too appa

ght from Smyth, who surrounded the action with a lu

phrasing that had both held and exasperated him before, '

is customary to take eviden

the resolutioni

rwent, 'we seven sha

mered the table with a bottle. 'Oyez, oyez, you

yford, pulling himself

or ag

t the c

rom an unsuspected source and making it disappear mysteriously,

oser. 'I don't mind England-but

e point,' said

o rarely a stranger, and the sky and the water it ees always blue. In Italy one lives because she ees alive-it ees sufficient. Here it ees always gray, gray

nt, Madame Carlotti took a hitch in her gown and reimpr

d to have a trial. You have all seen the accusation in Mr. Selwyn's ey

give evidence,' mu

ut she did,' said Smyth triumphan

rican, 'are we not to hear

ppy as a self-constituted master of cer

for the defence, for in the limited time I have been

said Dunckley sententiously, 'that A

not humour on Mr. Selwyn's part, but gratitude. In return for Christopher Columbus discovering Ame

Lady Durwent, opening the slui