rtier spoke of you to me only
yesterday."

"Captain 'Don' Courtier?--a clever artist and I believe a useful
officer. I should have appreciated an opportunity of meeting him again.
He has leave?"

"A few days; but the usual demands upon his time, poor fellow. You were
also, I think, a friend of my late uncle?"

"I was acquainted with Sir Jacques--yes. Mr. Mario, our present meeting
is more gratifying to me than I can hope to express. I may say that I
had designed to call upon you had Fate not taken a hand."

"Your visit would have been very welcome. I have been so busy with
unavoidable affairs since my arrival, that I fear I have quite neglected
social duties. With one or two exceptions I know nothing of my
neighbours. May I count upon the pleasure of your company at dinner
to-night?"

"You forestall me, Mr. Mario. I was about to ask you to come over to me.
Apart from my natural interest in yourself there is a matter which I
particularly desire to discuss with you. I trust you will excuse my
apparent rudeness, but indeed I know you will. Social dogma is the
armour of the parvenu."

Paul laughed again; Jules Thessaly was a welcome stimulant. "Clearly we
have many things in common," he said. "I shall be more than glad to join
you. Fascinating rumours are afloat concerning your collection of
Eastern wonders. May I hope that it is housed at Babylon Hall?"

A blaze of lightning came, illuminating the two figures, showing Paul
Mario's fine face turned expectantly toward Jules Thessaly, and alive
with an eagerness almost boyish; showing the Neronian countenance of the
other, softened by a smile which revealed small, strong teeth beneath
the crisp red moustache.

"Rumour is a lying jade, Mr. Mario. My collection I admit is a good
one, but there are at least three others in Europe and two in America
which are better. It is unique in one particular: the section containing
religious objects, totems, and gods of all ages is more complete than
that of any other collector, or of any museum. The bulk of it
unfortunately is at my house in London."

"In these days of air raids would it not be safer at Babylon Hall?"

"If all the gods to whom man has offered prayer cannot protect their
images in Park Lane, they cannot protect them in Lower Charleswood."

"Diogenes speaks from his tub!"

"The truth is often cynical."

"I fear that life has not a single illusion left for you."

"All men work like rebels, Mr. Mario, to win