my works in anything you may write. I am
taking steps to prevent such senseless twaddle about Adrian Grant as
appeared in the _Weekly Review_ from becoming general. Who betrayed my
secret I know not."

"You will find it difficult to contradict."

"No doubt, but once contradicted by my solicitors, who shall be able to
swear to its truth?"

"But why suppress truth, since your aim is to express it?" asked Henry
laughingly.

"Ah, there we have to use the word in its common commercial sense. The
truth that my name is what it is, and the truth that life is an
Armageddon, a phantasmagoria, have no relationship."

Mr. P. had risen to the passionate height of his unforgotten first
meeting with Henry, whose mind was now swaying in a chaos of wild and
whirling thought at the touch of this strange creature.

"But there," exclaimed the novelist savagely, "let us talk of simpler
things," and he threw himself into the chair he had vacated to pace the
room. "You say you are less enamoured of your work than you used to be.
I can understand it, and I should like to help you. From what I have
seen of you, the more literary work of a high-class journal would suit
you better; give you the chance to express yourself--if you have
anything to express--and I think you have some sense of style, though
your ideas are deplorably British--that is to say, Philistine."

"Do you really think I might succeed in London?" Henry asked, ignoring
the sneer at his ideas.

"Succeed as the world accounts success, most probably. You have the
dogged British quality of sticking to a thing, or you'd never have been
where you are so soon. But it's soulless work churning out this
political twaddle."

"I realise that, and I'm no politician; only one by force, so to speak.
You see, I write for a living."

"A terrible condition, but there is worse. Well, there is some zest, at
least, in getting into handgrips with London. If you've a stomach for
the fray, I could help. The whole scheme of life there is different. The
provinces have nothing to compare with it, as you would soon discover."

"But I believe it would be best to try my fortune as soon as I could."

"Yes, it's well to know the worst early," and Mr. P. gave a melancholy
smile. "If you care, I shall mention you to Swainton of the _Lyceum_. I
have some influence with him, I fancy; and he knows you already as a
promising contributor."

"I should be most grateful," said Henry, not without misgiving