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where M。 Le Ferrier was？ He could not。 I left to look for Jules；
could not find him； and returned to my hotel disgusted。 I was sorry
for my old guest； but vexed with him too； what business had he to
carry his Quixotism to such an unpleasant length？ I tried to read。
Eleven o'clock struck； the casino disgorged a stream of people； the
Place seemed fuller of life than ever； then slowly it grew empty and
quite dark。 The whim seized me to go out。 It was a still night；
very warm； very black。 On one of the seats a man and woman sat
embraced； on another a girl was sobbing； on a thirdstrange sighta
priest dozed。 I became aware of some one at my side； it was my old
guest。
〃If you are not too tired；〃 he said； 〃can you give me ten minutes？〃
〃Certainly； will you come in？〃
〃No； no； let us go down to the Terrace。 I shan't keep you long。〃
He did not speak again till we reached a seat above the pigeon…
shooting grounds； there； in a darkness denser for the string of
lights still burning in the town； we sat down。
〃I owe you an apology；〃 he said； 〃first in the afternoon； then again
this eveningyour guestyour friend's glove！ I have behaved as no
gentleman should。〃 He was leaning forward with his hands on the
handle of a stick。 His voice sounded broken and disturbed。
〃Oh！〃 I muttered。 〃It's nothing！〃'
〃You are very good；〃 he sighed； 〃but I feel that I must explain。 I
consider I owe this to you； but I must tell you I should not have the
courage if it were not for another reason。 You see I have no
friend。〃 He looked at me with an uncertain smile。 I bowed； and a
minute or two later he began。。。。
III
〃You will excuse me if I go back rather far。 It was in '74； when I
had been ill with Cuban fever。 To keep me alive they had put me on
board a ship at Santiago； and at the end of the voyage I found myself
in London。 I had very little money； I knew nobody。 I tell you； sir；
there are times when it's hard for a fighting man to get anything to
do。 People would say to me： 'Afraid we've nothing for a man like you
in our business。' I tried people of all sorts； but it was trueI
had been fighting here and there since '60； I wasn't fit for
anything〃 He shook his head。 〃In the South； before the war； they
had a saying； I remember； about a dog and a soldier having the same
value。 But all this has nothing to do with what I have to tell you。〃
He sighed again and went on； moistening his lips： 〃I was walking
along the Strand one day； very disheartened； when I heard my name
called。 It's a queer thing； that； in a strange street。 By the way；〃
he put in with dry ceremony； 〃you don't know my name； I think： it is
BruneRoger Brune。 At first I did not recognise the person who
called me。 He had just got off an omnibusa square…shouldered man
with heavy moustaches； and round spectacles。 But when he shook my
hand I knew him at once。 He was a man called Dalton； who was taken
prisoner at Gettysburg； one of you Englishmen who came to fight with
usa major in the regiment where I was captain。 We were comrades
during two campaigns。 If I had been his brother he couldn't have
seemed more pleased to see me。 He took me into a bar for the sake of
old times。 The drink went to my head； and by the time we reached
Trafalgar Square I was quite unable to walk。 He made me sit down on
a bench。 I was in factdrunk。 It's disgraceful to be drunk； but
there was some excuse。 Now I tell you； sir〃 （all through his story
he was always making use of that expression； it seemed to infuse
fresh spirit into him； to help his memory in obscure places； to give
him the mastery of his emotions； it was like the piece of paper a
nervous man holds in his hand to help him through a speech）； 〃there
never was a man with a finer soul than my friend Dalton。 He was not
clever； though he had read much； and sometimes perhaps he was too
fond of talking。 But he was a gentleman； he listened to me as if I
had been a child； he was not ashamed of meand it takes a gentleman
not to be ashamed of a drunken man in the streets of London； God
knows what things I said to him while we were sitting there！ He took
me to his home and put me to bed himself； for I was down again with
fever。〃 He stopped； turned slightly from me； and put his hand up to
his brow。 〃 Well； then it was； sir； that I first saw her。 I am not
a poet and I cannot tell you what she seemed to me。 I was delirious；
but I always knew when she was there。 I had dreams of sunshine and
cornfields； of dancing waves at sea； young treesnever the same
dreams； never anything for long together； and when I had my senses I
was afraid to say so for fear she would go away。 She'd be in the
corner of the room； with her hair hanging about her neck； a bright
gold colour； she never worked and never read； but sat and talked to
herself in a whisper； or looked at me for a long time together out of
her blue eyes； a little frown between them； and her upper lip closed
firm on her lower lip； where she had an uneven tooth。 When her
father came； she'd jump up and hang on to his neck until he groaned；
then run away； but presently come stealing back on tiptoe。 I used to
listen for her footsteps on the stairs； then the knock； the door
flung back or opened quietlyyou never could tell which； and her
voice； with a little lisp； 'Are you better today； Mr。 Brune？ What
funny things you say when you're delirious！ Father says you've been
in heaps of battles！〃'
He got up； paced restlessly to and fro； and sat down again。 〃I
remember every word as if it were yesterday； all the things she said；
and did； I've had a long time to think them over； you see。 Well； I
must tell you； the first morning that I was able to get up； I missed
her。 Dalton came in her place； and I asked him where she was。 'My
dear fellow；' he answered； 'I've sent Eilie away to her old nurse's
inn down on the river； she's better there at this time of year。' We
looked at each other； and I saw that he had sent her away because he
didn't trust me。 I was hurt by this。 Illness spoils one。 He was
right； he was quite right； for all he knew about me was that I could
fight and had got drunk； but I am very quick…tempered。 I made up my
mind at once to leave him。 But I was too weakhe had to put me to
bed again。 The very next morning he came and proposed that I should
go into partnership with him。 He kept a fencing…school and pistol…
gallery。 It seemed like the finger of God； and perhaps it waswho
knows？〃 He fell into a reverie； and taking out his caporal； rolled
himself a cigarette； having lighted it； he went on suddenly： 〃There；
in the room above the school； we used to sit in the evenings； one on
each side of the grate。 The room was on the second floor；
I remember； with two windows； and a view of nothing but the houses
opposite。 The furniture was covered up with chintz。 The things on
the bookshelf were never disturbed； they were Eilie'shalf…broke