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gimcrackery。 It is hard to report the processes of his sophistication；
perhaps this； again； may best be left to the marital imagination。
He rang at the last of these up…town apartments as it was falling dusk；
and it was long before the janitor appeared。 Then the man was very
surly； and said if he looked at the flat now he would say it was too
dark； like all the rest。 His reluctance irritated March in proportion to
his insincerity in proposing to look at it at all。 He knew he did not
mean to take it under any circumstances； that he was going to use his
inspection of it in dishonest justification of his disobedience to his
wife； but he put on an air of offended dignity。 〃If you don't wish to
show the apartment；〃 he said； 〃I don't care to see it。〃
The man groaned； for he was heavy； and no doubt dreaded the stairs。 He
scratched a match on his thigh； and led the way up。 March was sorry for
him； and he put his fingers on a quarter in his waistcoat…pocket to give
him at parting。 At the same time； be had to trump up an objection to the
flat。 This was easy； for it was advertised as containing ten rooms； and
he found the number eked out with the bath…room and two large closets。
〃It's light enough；〃 said March； 〃but I don't see how you make out ten
rooms〃
〃There's ten rooms；〃 said the man； deigning no proof。
March took his fingers off the quarter； and went down…stairs and out of
the door without another word。 It would be wrong； it would be
impossible； to give the man anything after such insolence。 He reflected；
with shame； that it was also cheaper to punish than forgive him。
He returned to his hotel prepared for any desperate measure； and
convinced now that the Grosvenor Green apartment was not merely the only
thing left for him； but was； on its own merits； the best thing in New
York。
Fulkerson was waiting for him in the reading…room； and it gave March the
curious thrill with which a man closes with temptation when he said：
〃Look here！ Why don't you take that woman's flat in the Xenophon？ She's
been at the agents again； and they've been at me。 She likes your look
or Mrs。 March'sand I guess you can have it at a pretty heavy discount
from the original price。 I'm authorized to say you can have it for one
seventy…five a month； and I don't believe it would be safe for you to
offer one fifty。〃
March shook his head； and dropped a mask of virtuous rejection over his
corrupt acquiescence。 〃It's too small for uswe couldn't squeeze into
it。〃
〃Why； look here！〃 Fulkerson persisted。 〃How many rooms do you people
want？〃
〃I've got to have a place to work〃
〃Of course！ And you've got to have it at the Fifth Wheel office。〃
〃I hadn't thought of that；〃 March began。 〃I suppose I could do my work
at the office； as there's not much writing〃
〃Why； of course you can't do your work at home。 You just come round with
me now； and look at that again。〃
〃No； I can't do it。〃
〃Why？〃
〃II've got to dine。〃
〃All right；〃 said Fulkerson。 〃Dine with me。 I want to take you round to
a little Italian place that I know。〃
One may trace the successive steps of March's descent in this simple
matter with the same edification that would attend the study of the self…
delusions and obfuscations of a man tempted to crime。 The process is
probably not at all different； and to the philosophical mind the kind of
result is unimportant； the process is everything。
Fulkerson led him down one block and half across another to the steps of
a small dwelling…house； transformed； like many others； into a restaurant
of the Latin ideal； with little or no structural change from the pattern
of the lower middle…class New York home。 There were the corroded
brownstone steps； the mean little front door； and the cramped entry with
its narrow stairs by which ladies could go up to a dining…room appointed
for them on the second floor； the parlors on the first were set about
with tables； where men smoked cigarettes between the courses； and a
single waiter ran swiftly to and fro with plates and dishes； and；
exchanged unintelligible outcries with a cook beyond a slide in the back
parlor。 He rushed at the new…comers； brushed the soiled table…cloth
before them with a towel on his arm； covered its worst stains with a
napkin； and brought them； in their order； the vermicelli soup； the fried
fish； the cheese…strewn spaghetti； the veal cutlets； the tepid roast fowl
and salad； and the wizened pear and coffee which form the dinner at such
places。
〃Ah； this is nice！〃 said Fulkerson； after the laying of the charitable
napkin； and he began to recognize acquaintances； some of whom he
described to March as young literary men and artists with whom they
should probably have to do； others were simply frequenters of the place；
and were of all nationalities and religions apparentlyat least； several
were Hebrews and Cubans。 〃You get a pretty good slice of New York here；〃
he said； 〃all except the frosting on top。 That you won't find much at
Maroni's； though you will occasionally。 I don't mean the ladies ever；
of course。〃 The ladies present seemed harmless and reputable…looking
people enough； but certainly they were not of the first fashion； and；
except in a few instances； not Americans。 〃It's like cutting straight
down through a fruitcake；〃 Fulkerson went on； 〃or a mince…pie； when you
don't know who made the pie； you get a little of everything。〃 He ordered
a small flask of Chianti with the dinner； and it came in its pretty
wicker jacket。 March smiled upon it with tender reminiscence； and
Fulkerson laughed。 〃Lights you up a little。 I brought old Dryfoos here
one day； and he thought it was sweet…oil； that's the kind of bottle they
used to have it in at the country drug…stores。〃
〃Yes； I remember now； but I'd totally forgotten it；〃 said March。
〃How far back that goes！ Who's Dryfoos？〃
〃Dryfoos？〃 Fulkerson； still smiling； tore off a piece of the half…yard
of French loaf which had been supplied them； with two pale； thin disks of
butter； and fed it into himself。 〃Old Dryfoos？ Well； of course！ I call
him old； but he ain't so very。 About fifty； or along there。〃
〃No；〃 said March； 〃that isn't very oldor not so old as it used to be。〃
〃Well； I suppose you've got to know about him； anyway；〃 said Fulkerson；
thoughtfully。 〃And I've been wondering just how I should tell you。
Can't always make out exactly how much of a Bostonian you really are！
Ever been out in the natural…gas country？〃
〃No；〃 said March。 〃I've had a good deal of curiosity about it； but I've
never been able to get away except in summer； and then we always
preferred to go over the old ground； out to Niagara and back through
Canada； the route we took on our wedding journey。 The children like it
as much as we do。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 said Fulkerson。 〃Well； the natural…gas country is worth
seeing。 I don't mean the Pittsburg gas…fields； but out in Northern Ohio
and Indiana around Moffittthat's the place in the heart of the gas
region that they've been booming so。 Yes； you ought to see that country。
If you haven't been West for a good many years； you haven't got any idea
how old the country looks。 You rememb