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tell it you； it is really stranger than fiction。〃 Mark Shrewsbury pricked up
his ears； he no longer felt bored； he began to think that； after all； there
might be some compensation for this wearisome dinner…party。 He was
always glad to seize upon material for future plots； and somehow the
notion of a mysterious Pole suddenly making his appearance in that quiet
country neighbourhood and winning undeserved popularity rather took his
fancy。 He thought he might make something of it。 However； he knew
human nature too well to ask a direct question。
〃I am sorry to hear that；〃 he said； becoming all at once quite
sympathetic and approachable。 〃I don't like the thought of those simple；
unsophisticated people being hoodwinked by a scoundrel。〃
〃No； is it not sad？〃 said Mrs。 Selldon。 〃Such pleasant； hospitable
people as they are！ Do you remember the Morleys？〃
〃Oh yes！ There was a pretty daughter who played tennis well。〃
〃Quite soGertrude Morley。 Well； would you believe it； this
miserable fortune…hunter is actually either engaged to her or on the eve of
being engaged！ Poor Mrs。 Milton…Cleave is so unhappy about it； for she
knows； on the best authority； that Mr。 Zaluski is unfit to enter a respectable
house。〃
〃Perhaps he is really some escaped criminal？〃 suggested Mr。
Shrewsbury； tentatively。
Mrs。 Selldon hesitated。 Then； under the cover of the general roar of
conversation； she said in a low voice：…
〃You have guessed quite rightly。 He is one of the Nihilists who were
concerned in the assassination of the late Czar。〃
〃You don't say so！〃 exclaimed Mark Shrewsbury； much startled。 〃Is
it possible？〃
〃Indeed； it is only too true；〃 said Mrs。 Selldon。 〃I heard it only the
other morning； and on the very best authority。 Poor Gertrude Morley！
My heart bleeds for her。〃
Now I can't help observing here that this must have been the merest
figure of speech； for just then there was a comfortable little glow of
satisfaction about Mrs。 Selldon's heart。 She was so delighted to have
〃got on well；〃 as she expressed it； with the literary lion； and by this time
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
dessert was on the table； and soon the tedious ceremony would be happily
over。 〃But how did he escape？〃 asked Mark Shrewsbury； still with the
thought of 〃copy〃 in his mind。
〃I don't know the details；〃 said Mrs。 Selldon。 〃Probably they are only
known to himself。 But he managed to escape somehow in the month of
March 1881； and to reach England safely。 I fear it is only too often the
case in this worldwickedness is apt to be successful。〃
〃To flourish like a green bay tree；〃 said Mark Shrewsbury；
congratulating himself on the aptness of the quotation； and its suitability to
the Archediaconal dinner…table。 〃It is the strangest story I have heard for
a long time。〃 Just then there was a pause in the general conversation； and
Mrs。 Selldon took advantage of it to make the sign for rising； so that no
more passed with regard to Zaluski。
Shrewsbury； flattering himself that he had left a good impression by
his last remark； thought better not to efface it later in the evening by any
other conversation with his hostess。 But in the small hours of the night；
when he had finished his bundle of proofs； he took up his notebook and；
strangling his yawns； made two or three brief； pithy notes of the story Mrs。
Selldon had told him； adding a further development which occurred to him；
and wondering to himself whether 〃Like a Green Bay Tree〃 would be a
selling title。
After this he went to bed； and slept the sleep of the just； or the
unbroken sleep which goes by that name。
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
MY SIXTH STAGE
But whispering tongues can poison truth。 COLERIDGE
London in early September is a somewhat trying place。 Mark
Shrewsbury found it less pleasing in reality than in his visions during the
dinner…party at Dulminster。 True； his chambers were comfortable； and
his type…writer was as invaluable a machine as ever； and his novel was
drawing to a successful conclusion； but though all these things were
calculated to cheer him； he was nevertheless depressed。 Town was dull；
the heat was trying； and he had never in his life found it so difficult to
settle down to work。 He began to agree with the Preacher； that 〃of making
many books there is no end；〃 and that； in spite of his favourite
〃Remington's perfected No。 2；〃 novel…writing was a weariness to the flesh。
Soon he drifted into a sort of vague idleness； which was not a good； honest
holiday； but just a lazy waste of time and brains。 I was pleased to
observe this； and was not slow to take advantage of it。 Had he stayed in
Pump Court he might have forgotten me altogether in his work； but in the
soft luxury of his Club life I found that I had a very fair chance of being
passed on to some one else。
One hot afternoon； on waking from a comfortable nap in the depths of
an armchair at the Club； Shrewsbury was greeted by one of his friends。
〃I thought you were in Switzerland； old fellow！〃 he exclaimed；
yawning and stretching himself。
〃Came back yesterdayawfully bad seasonconfoundedly dull；〃
returned the other。 〃Where have you been？〃
〃Down with Warren near Dulminster。 Deathly dull hole。〃
〃Do for your next novel。 Eh？〃 said the other with a laugh。
Mark Shrewsbury smiled good…naturedly。
〃Talking of novels；〃 he observed； with another yawn； 〃I heard such a
story down there！〃
〃Did you？ Let's hear it。 A nice little scandal would do instead of a
pick…me…up。〃
〃It's not a scandal。 Don't raise your expectations。 It's the story of a
successful scoundrel。〃
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
And then I came out again in full vigournay； with vastly increased
powers； for though Mark Shrew