ity
known to civilization, save those involving physical risk or physical
exertion for the criminal. There were then whole quarters of the
metropolis out of which every native resident had gradually been ousted,
in which the English language was rarely heard, except during a police
raid.

Tens of thousands of these unclassed, denationalized foreigners lived
and waxed fat by playing upon the foibles and pandering to the
weaknesses of the great city's native population. Others, of a higher
class, steadily ousted native labour in the various branches of
legitimate commerce. We know now, to our cost, something of the
malignant danger these foreigners represented. In indirect ways one
would have supposed their evil influence was sufficiently obvious then.
But I remember that the parties represented by such organs as the _Daily
Gazette_ prided themselves upon their furious opposition to any hint of
precautions making for the restriction of alien immigration.

England was the land of the free, they said. Yet, while boasting that
England was the refuge of the persecuted (as well as the rejected) of
all lands, we were so wonderfully broad-minded that we upheld anything
foreign against anything British, and were intolerant only of English
sentiment, English rule, English institutions. I believe Beatrice's
conviction of the superiority of the Continent and of foreigners
generally was based upon the belief that:

"On the Continent people can really enjoy themselves. There's none of
our ridiculous English puritanism, and early closing, and rubbish of
that sort there."

I am rather surprised that the crude hedonism of Beatrice should have
appealed to me, for my weaknesses had never really included mere fleshly
indulgence. But, as I have said, the girl had the charm of novelty for
me. I remember satirically assuring myself that, upon the whole, her
frank concentration upon worldly pleasure was more natural and pleasing
than Sylvia's rapt concentration upon other kinds of self-ministration.
Ours was a period of self-indulgence. Beatrice was, after all, only a
little more naive and outspoken than the majority in her thirst for
pleasure. And she was quite charming to look upon.

Almost the first man to whom I spoke regarding my dismissal from the
staff of the _Daily Gazette_ was Clement Blaine. I met him in Fleet
Street, and was asked in to his cupboard of an office.

"You are a man who knows every one in Fleet Street," I said. "I