CHAPTER II

"THE NEW ART"

A tall, fair young man stood in the small alcove of Lady Swindon's drawing-room, with his eyes fixed upon the door. He was accurately dressed in the afternoon garb of a London man about town, and carried in his hand, or rather in his hands, for they were crossed behind him, that hall-mark of Western civilization--a well-brushed, immaculate silk hat. Neither in his clothes nor personal appearance was there any striking difference between him and the crowd of other young men who thronged the rooms, except perhaps that he was a trifle better made, and pleasanter to look at than most of them, and that the air of boredom, so apparent on most of their faces and in their manners, was in his case perfectly natural. As a matter of fact, he hated afternoon receptions, and was only waiting for a favourable opportunity to make his exit unnoticed.

"Paul, my boy, you don't look happy," exclaimed a voice in his ear.

Paul de Vaux turned upon the new-comer sharply. "Not likely to, Arthur. You know I hate all this sort of thing, and, as far as I can see, it's just a repetition of the usual performance--stale speeches, lionizing, gossip, and weak tea. I consider you've brought me here under false pretences. Where's the startling novelty you promised me?"

"All in good time," was the cool reply. "You'll thank your stars you're here in a minute or two."

Paul de Vaux looked at his brother incredulously. "Some sell of yours, I suppose," he remarked. "At any rate, no one here whom I have spoken to seems to be expecting anything unusual."

What are the answers to this following set of questions:

1. Who stood in the alcove?
2. Who said Paul didn't look happy?
3. What's Paul's last name?
4. Does he like afternoon receptions?
5. What happens at them?
6. Who brought Paul there?
7. Why did he come?
8. When does Arthur think Paul will be thankful?
9. What's the relationship between Paul and Arthur?
10. Is everyone expecting something strange?
11. Whose house were they at?
12. And what room there?
13. What city were they in?
14. What was he wearing?
15. Of what kind of person?
16. What position were his hands in?
17. What was he holding?
18. What material was it made of?
19. Was it clean?
20. Who else was in the room?
1. A young man
2. Arthur
3. de Vaux
4. No
5. stale speeches, lionizing, gossip, and weak tea
6. Arthur
7. startling novelty was promised
8. a minute or two
9. brothers
10. no
11. Lady Swindon's
12. drawing-room
13. London
14. afternoon garb
15. London man about town
16. crossed behind him
17. hat
18. silk
19. yes
20. other young men