The Delta independent., 1915-10-29
have played Wedding Guest to Ayl
mers Ancient Mariner.


his Italy overland. Rather good idea
/ thought, especially as he said he
had friends in Rome; but we never
heard of 'em beforehand, and l should
have let the whole thing strike me Bit
sooner if I'd been Cazalet. Soor
enough to take a handbag and g
toothbrush, Ell? And ] don't think
should have run it quite so fine al
Genoa, either. But there are rum
birds in this world. and always will
be-"
Toye felt one himself as he picked
his way through st. James square
If it had not been just after lunch, he
would have gone straight and had a
cocktail, for of course he knew the
only place for them. What he did was
to slue round out OF the square, and
to obtain for the asking, at another
old haunt, on Cockspur street, the
latest little timetable of continental
trains. This he carried, not on foot
but in a taxi, to the Savoy Hotel,
where it kept him busy in his own
room for the best part of another hour
But by that time Hilton Toye looked
more than an hour older than on sit
ting down at his writing-table with
pencil, paper and the little book of
trains; he looked horrified, he looked
distressed, and yet he looked crafty,
determined and immensely alive. He
proceeded, however, to take some of
the life out of himself. and to adj still
more to his apparent age, by repair
TO-. g..
ish bath.
Now the only Turkish bath, accord
ing to Hilton Toye's somewhat exclus-
i've code, was not even a hundred
yards from Cazalet's hotel: and there
the visitor of the morning again pre-
sentej himself before the afternoon;
now merely a little worn, as a man
on warm afternoon, and bit blue
again about the chin, which of course
looked little deeper and stronger on
that account.
Cazalet was not in; his friend would
wait, and in fact waited over an hour
in the little lounge. An evening paper
was offered to him; he took it listless-
ly. scarcely looked at it at first, then
tore it in his anxiety to find something
he had quite forgotten-from the
newspaper end. But he was waiting
as stoically. as before when Cazalet
arrived in tremendous spirits.
Stop and dine!" he cried out at
once.
Sorry I can't; got to go and see
somebody" said Hilton Toye.
Then you must have a drink"
mo, | thank you," said Toye, with
the decisive courtesy of total abb
stainer.
You look as if you wanted one; you
don't look bit fit" said Cazalet, most
kindly.
"Nor am l. sir!" exclaimed Toye.
Il guess London's no place for me in
the fall. Just as well. too, ] Judge,
since I've got to light out again
straight away"
you haven't"
"Yes, sir, this very night. That's
the worst of business that takes you
to all the capitals of Europe in turn.
1t takes you SO long to fit around that
you never know when you've got to
start in again"
(Which capital Is it this timer" said
Cazalet His exuberant geniality had
been dashed very visibly for the mo
ment. But already his high spirits
were reasserting themselves; indeed
cynic with an ear might have caugh
the note of sudden consolation in the
question that Cazalet asked so briskly
Got to go down to Rome" sait
Toye, watching the effect of hi
words.
But you've just come back from
there" Cazalet looked no worse thai
puzzled
NO, sir, ! missed Rome out; tina
was my mistake, and here's this stu
alton been developing behind m
back"
What situation?"
"Oh, why, it wouldn't interest you
But I've got to go down to Rome
whether / like 1t or not, and / don
| like it any, because / don't have an
friends there. And that's what I'm dc
| ing right here. / was wondering
you'd do something for me, Cazalet?
"If can," said CaZalet, with pleai
ure." But his smiles were gone.
81 was wondering if you'd give m
an introduction to those friends c
yours in Rome!"
There was little pause. and Cazi
let's tongue just showed between hi
lips, moistening them. 1t was at tina
moment the only touch of color in hi
face
| HnfJ faI I'D fripp6
tbere?"
The sound of his voice was perhap
less hoarse than puzzled. Toye mad
himself chuckle as he sat looking u
out of somber eyes.