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angel or devil with drawn sword。 And then there came to him another
thought。 Since he was being cast forth from Church and State； could
he not play the fallen spirit like a manbe Lucifer； and destroy！
And instinctively he at once saw himself returning to those towers；
and beneath them crossing the floor； joining the revolutionaries； the
Radicals； the freethinkers； scourging his present Party； the party of
authority and institutions。 The idea struck him as supremely comic；
and he laughed out loud in the street。。。。
The Club which Lord Dennis frequented was in St。 James's untouched by
the tides of the waters of fashionsteadily swinging to its moorings
in a quiet backwater； and Miltoun found his uncle in the library。 He
was reading a volume of Burton's travels； and drinking tea。
〃Nobody comes here；〃 he said； 〃so； in spite of that word on the door；
we shall talk。 Waiter； bring some more tea； please。〃
Impatiently； but with a sort of pity； Miltoun watched Lord Dennis's
urbane movements； wherein old age was； pathetically； trying to make
each little thing seem important； if only to the doer。 Nothing his
great…uncle could say would outweigh the warning of his picturesque
old figure！ To be a bystander； to see it all go past you； to let
your sword rust in its sheath； as this poor old fellow had done！ The
notion of explaining what he had come about was particularly hateful
to Miltoun； but since he had given his word； he nerved himself with
secret anger； and began：
〃I promised my mother to ask you a question； Uncle Dennis。 You know
of my attachment； I believe？〃
Lord Dennis nodded。
〃Well； I have joined my life to this lady's。 There will be no
scandal； but I consider it my duty to resign my seat； and leave
public life alone。 Is that right or wrong according to； your view？〃
Lord Dennis looked at his nephew in silence。 A faint flush coloured
his brown cheeks。 He had the appearance of one travelling in mind
over the past。
〃Wrong； I think；〃 he said； at last。
〃Why； if I may ask？〃
〃I have not the pleasure of knowing this lady； and am therefore
somewhat in the dark； but it appears to me that your decision is not
fair to her。〃
〃That is beyond me；〃 said Miltoun。
Lord Dennis answered firmly：
〃You have asked me a frank question； expecting a frank answer； I
suppose？〃
Miltoun nodded。
〃Then； my dear； don't blame me if what I say is unpalatable。〃
〃I shall not。〃
〃Good！ You say you are going to give up public life for the sake of
your conscience。 I should have no criticism to make if it stopped
there。〃
He paused； and for quite a minute remained silent； evidently
searching for words to express some intricate thread of thought。
〃But it won't； Eustace； the public man in you is far stronger than
the other。 You want leadership more than you want love。 Your
sacrifice will kill your affection； what you imagine is your loss and
hurt； will prove to be this lady's in the end。〃
Miltoun smiled。
Lord Dennis continued very dryly and with a touch of malice：
〃You are not listening to me； but I can see very well that the
process has begun already underneath。 There's a curious streak of
the Jesuit in you； Eustace。 What you don't want to see； you won't
look at。〃
〃You advise me； then； to compromise？〃
〃On the contrary； I point out that you will be compromising if you
try to keep both your conscience and your love。 You will be seeking
to have； it both ways。〃
〃That is interesting。〃
〃And you will find yourself having it neither；〃 said Lord Dennis
sharply。
Miltoun rose。 〃In other words； you； like the others； recommend me to
desert this lady who loves me； and whom I love。 And yet； Uncle； they
say that in your own case〃
But Lord Dennis had risen； too； having lost all the appanage and
manner of old age。
〃Of my own case；〃 he said bluntly； 〃we won't talk。 I don't advise
you to desert anyone； you quite mistake me。 I advise you to know
yourself。 And I tell you my opinion of youyou were cut out by
Nature for a statesman； not a lover！ There's something dried…up in
you； Eustace； I'm not sure there isn't something dried…up in all our
caste。 We've had to do with forms and ceremonies too long。 We're
not good at taking the lyrical point of view。〃
〃Unfortunately；〃 said Miltoun； 〃I cannot； to fit in with a theory of
yours； commit a baseness。〃
Lord Dennis began pacing up and down。 He was keeping his lips closed
very tight。
〃A man who gives advice；〃 he said at last； 〃is always something of a
fool。 For all that； you have mistaken mine。 I am not so
presumptuous as to attempt to enter the inner chamber of your spirit。
I have merely told you that； in my opinion； it would be more honest
to yourself； and fairer to this lady； to compound with your
conscience； and keep both your love and your public life； than to
pretend that you were capable of sacrificing what I know is the
stronger element in you for the sake of the weaker。 You remember the
saying； Democritus I think： 'each man's nature or character is his
fate or God'。 I recommend it to you。〃
For a full minute Miltoun stood without replying； then said：
〃I am sorry to have troubled you； Uncle Dennis。 A middle policy is
no use to me。 Good…bye！〃 And without shaking hands； he went out。
CHAPTER XXII
In the hall someone rose from a sofa； and came towards him。 It was
Courtier。
〃Run you to earth at last；〃 he said； 〃I wish you'd come and dine with
me。 I'm leaving England to…morrow night； and there are things I want
to say。〃
There passed through Miltoun's mind the rapid thought： 'Does he
know？' He assented； however； and they went out together。
〃It's difficult to find a quiet place；〃 said Courtier； 〃but this
might do。〃
The place chosen was a little hostel； frequented by racing men； and
famed for the excellence of its steaks。 And as they sat down
opposite each other in the almost empty room； Miltoun thought： Yes；
he does know！ Can I stand any more of this？ He waited almost
savagely for the attack he felt was coming。
〃So you are going to give up your seat？〃 said Courtier。
Miltoun looked at him for some seconds； before replying。
〃From what town…crier did you hear that？〃
But there was that in Courtier's face which checked his anger； its
friendliness was transparent。
〃I am about her only friend；〃 Courtier proceeded earnestly； 〃and this
is my last chanceto say nothing of my feeling towards you； which；
believe me； is very cordial。〃
〃Go on； then；〃 Miltoun muttered。
〃Forgive me for putting it bluntly。 Have you considered what her
position was before she met you？〃
Miltoun felt the blood rushing to his face； but he sat still；
clenching his nails into the palms of his hands。
〃Yes； yes；〃 said Courtier； 〃but that attitude of mindyou used to
have it yourselfwhich decrees either living death； or spiritual
adultery to women； makes my blood boil。 You can't deny that those
were the alternatives； and I say you had the right fundamentally to
protest against them； not only in words but deeds。 You did protest；
I know； but this present decision of yours is a climb down； as much
as to say that your protest was wrong。〃