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be made to believe that they are happy； that they are tremendously
important beings； and that everything they do is noble and significant。
For the lower species the earth will be restored to the centre of the
universe and man to pre… eminence on the earth。 Oh； I envy the lot of the
commonality in the Rational State！ Working their eight hours a day；
obeying their betters； convinced of their own grandeur and significance
and immortality； they will be marvellously happy； happier than any race of
men has ever been。 They will go through life in a rosy state of
intoxication； from which they will never awake。 The Men of Faith will
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play the cup…bearers at this lifelong bacchanal； filling and ever filling
again with the warm liquor that the Intelligences； in sad and sober privacy
behind the scenes； will brew for the intoxication of their subjects。〃
〃And what will be my place in the Rational State？〃 Denis drowsily
inquired from under his shading hand。
Mr。 Scogan looked at him for a moment in silence。 〃It's difficult to
see where you would fit in；〃 he said at last。 〃You couldn't do manual
work； you're too independent and unsuggestible to belong to the larger
Herd； you have none of the characteristics required in a Man of Faith。 As
for the Directing Intelligences； they will have to be marvellously clear and
merciless and penetrating。〃 He paused and shook his head。 〃No； I can
see no place for you； only the lethal chamber。〃
Deeply hurt； Denis emitted the imitation of a loud Homeric laugh。 〃I'm
getting sunstroke here；〃 he said； and got up。
Mr。 Scogan followed his example； and they walked slowly away down
the narrow path； brushing the blue lavender flowers in their passage。
Denis pulled a sprig of lavender and sniffed at it； then some dark leaves of
rosemary that smelt like incense in a cavernous church。 They passed a
bed of opium poppies； dispetaled now； the round； ripe seedheads were
brown and drylike Polynesian trophies； Denis thought； severed heads
stuck on poles。 He liked the fancy enough to impart it to Mr。 Scogan。
〃Like Polynesian trophies。。。〃 Uttered aloud； the fancy seemed less
charming and significant than it did when it first occurred to him。
There was a silence； and in a growing wave of sound the whir of the
reaping machines swelled up from the fields beyond the garden and then
receded into a remoter hum。
〃It is satisfactory to think；〃 said Mr。 Scogan； as they strolled slowly
onward； 〃that a multitude of people are toiling in the harvest fields in
order that we may talk of Polynesia。 Like every other good thing in this
world； leisure and culture have to be paid for。 Fortunately； however； it is
not the leisured and the cultured who have to pay。 Let us be duly
thankful for that； my dear Denisduly thankful；〃 he repeated； and knocked
the ashes out of his pipe。
Denis was not listening。 He had suddenly remembered Anne。 She
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was with Gombauldalone with him in his studio。 It was an intolerable
thought。
〃Shall we go and pay a call on Gombauld？〃 he suggested carelessly。
It would be amusing to see what he's doing now。〃
He laughed inwardly to think how furious Gombauld would be when
he saw them arriving。
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CHAPTER XXIII。
Gombauld was by no means so furious at their apparition as Denis had
hoped and expected he would be。 Indeed； he was rather pleased than
annoyed when the two faces； one brown and pointed； the other round and
pale； appeared in the frame of the open door。 The energy born of his
restless irritation was dying within him； returning to its emotional
elements。 A moment more and he would have been losing his temper
againand Anne would be keeping hers； infuriatingly。 Yes； he was
positively glad to see them。
〃Come in； come in；〃 he called out hospitably。
Followed by Mr。 Scogan； Denis climbed the little ladder and stepped
over the threshold。 He looked suspiciously from Gombauld to his sitter；
and could learn nothing from the expression of their faces except that they
both seemed pleased to see the visitors。 Were they really glad； or were
they cunningly simulating gladness？ He wondered。
Mr。 Scogan； meanwhile； was looking at the portrait。
〃Excellent；〃 he said approvingly； 〃excellent。 Almost too true to
character； if that is possible； yes； positively too true。 But I'm surprised to
find you putting in all this psychology business。〃 He pointed to the face；
and with his extended finger followed the slack curves of the painted
figure。 〃I thought you were one of the fellows who went in exclusively
for balanced masses and impinging planes。〃
Gombauld laughed。 〃This is a little infidelity；〃 he said。
〃I'm sorry；〃 said Mr。 Scogan。 〃I for one； without ever having had the
slightest appreciation of painting； have always taken particular pleasure in
Cubismus。 I like to see pictures from which nature has been completely
banished； pictures which are exclusively the product of the human mind。
They give me the same pleasure as I derive from a good piece of reasoning
or a mathematical problem or an achievement of engineering。 Nature； or
anything that reminds me of nature； disturbs me； it is too large； too
complicated； above all too utterly pointless and incomprehensible。 I am
at home with the works of man； if I choose to set my mind to it； I can
understand anything that any man has made or thought。 That is why I
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always travel by Tube； never by bus if I can possibly help it。 For；
travelling by bus； one