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〃I am very much in earnest。 Abandon at once and for ever all
misgivings that I am trifling with you； or passing an idle hour
as men do when they find themselves in the company of beautiful
women。 I mean what I say literally； and in the deepest sense。 You
doubt me； we have brought society to such a state that we all
suspect one another。 But whatever is true will command belief
sooner or later from those who have wit enough to comprehend
truth。 Now let me recall Miss Lindsay to consciousness by
remarking that we have been out for ten minutes； and that our
hostess is not the woman to allow our absence to pass without
comment。〃
〃Let us go in。 Thank you for reminding me。〃
〃Thank you for forgetting。〃
Erskine heard their footsteps retreating； and presently saw the
two enter the glow of light that shone from the open window of
the billiard room； through which they went indoors。 Trefusis； a
man whom he had seen that day in a beautiful landscape； blind to
everything except a row of figures in a Blue Book； was his
successful rival； although it was plain from the very sound of
his voice that he did notcould notlove Gertrude。 Only a poet
could do that。 Trefusis was no poet； but a sordid brute unlikely
to inspire interest in anything more human than a public meeting；
much less in a woman； much less again in a woman so ethereal as
Gertrude。 She was proud too； yet she had allowed the fellow to
insult herhad forgiven him for the sake of a few broad
compliments。 Erskine grew angry and cynical。 The situation did
not suit his poetry。 Instead of being stricken to the heart with
a solemn sorrow； as a Patriot Martyr would have been under
similar circumstances； he felt slighted and ridiculous。 He was
hardly convinced of what had seemed at first the most obvious
feature of the case； Trefusis's inferiority to himself。
He stood under the trees until Trefusis reappeared on his way
home； making； Erskine thought； as much noise with his heels on
the gravel as a regiment of delicately bred men would have done。
He stopped for a moment to make inquiry at the lodge as he went
out； then his footsteps died away in the distance。
Erskine； chilled； stiff； and with a sensation of a bad cold
coming on； went into the house； and was relieved to find that
Gertrude had retired； and that Lady Brandon； though she had been
sure that he had ridden into the river in the dark； had
nevertheless provided a warm supper for him。
CHAPTER XV
Erskine soon found plenty of themes for his newly begotten
cynicism。 Gertrude's manner towards him softened so much that he；
believing her heart given to his rival； concluded that she was
tempting him to make a proposal which she had no intention of
accepting。 Sir Charles； to whom he told what he had overheard in
the avenue； professed sympathy； but was evidently pleased to
learn that there was nothing serious in the attentions Trefusis
paid to Agatha。 Erskine wrote three bitter sonnets on hollow
friendship and showed them to Sir Charles； who； failing to apply
them to himself； praised them highly and showed them to Trefusis
without asking the author's permission。 Trefusis remarked that in
a corrupt society expressions of dissatisfaction were always
creditable to a writer's sensibility； but he did not say much in
praise of the verse。
〃Why has he taken to writing in this vein？〃 he said。 〃Has he been
disappointed in any way of late？ Has he proposed to Miss Lindsay
and been rejected？〃
〃No；〃 said Sir Charles surprised by this blunt reference to a
subject they had never before discussed。 〃He does not intend to
propose to Miss Lindsay。〃
〃But he did intend to。〃
〃He certainly did； but he has given up the idea。〃
〃Why？〃 said Trefusis； apparently disapproving strongly of the
renunciation。
Sir Charles shrugged his shoulders and did not reply。
〃I am sorry to hear it。 I wish you could induce him to change his
mind。 He is a nice fellow； with enough to live on comfortably；
whilst he is yet what is called a poor man； so that she could
feel perfectly disinterested in marrying him。 It will do her good
to marry without making a pecuniary profit by it； she will
respect herself the more afterwards； and will neither want bread
and butter nor be ashamed of her husband's origin； in spite of
having married for love alone。 Make a match of it if you can。 I
take an interest in the girl； she has good instincts。〃
Sir Charles's suspicion that Trefusis was really paying court to
Agatha returned after this conversation； which he repeated to
Erskine； who； much annoyed because his poems had been shown to a
reader of Blue Books； thought it only a blind for Trefusis's
design upon Gertrude。 Sir Charles pooh…poohed this view； and the
two friends were sharp with one another in discussing it。 After
dinner； when the ladies had left them； Sir Charles； repentant and
cordial； urged Erskine to speak to Gertrude without troubling
himself as to the sincerity of Trefusis。 But Erskine； knowing
himself ill able to brook a refusal； was loth to expose himself
to o
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〃If you had heard the tone of her voice when she asked him
whether he was in earnest； you would not talk to me like this；〃
he said despondently。 〃I wish he had never come here。〃
〃Well； that； at least； was no fault of mine； my dear fellow；〃
said Sir Charles。 〃He came among us against my will。 And now that
he appears to have been in the rightlegallyabout the field；
it would look like spite if I cut him。 Besides； he really isn't a
bad man if he would only let the women alone。〃
〃If he trifles with Miss Lindsay； I shall ask him to cross the
Channel； and have a shot at him。〃
〃I don't think he'd go；〃 said Sir Charles dubiously。 〃If I were
you； I would try my luck with Gertrude at once。 In spite of what
you heard； I don't believe she would marry a man of his origin。
His money gives him an advantage； certainly； but Gertrude has
sent richer men to the rightabout。〃
〃Let the fellow have fair play；〃 said Erskine。 〃I may be wrong；
of course； all men are liable to err in judging themselves； but I
think I could make her happier than he can。〃
Sir Charles was not so sure of that； but he cheerfully responded；
〃Certainly。 He is not the man for her at all； and you are。 He
knows it； too。〃
〃Hmf！〃 muttered Erskine； rising dejectedly。 〃Let's go upstairs。〃
〃By…the…bye； we are to call on him to…morrow； to go through his
house； and his collection of photographs。 Photographs！ Ha； ha〃
Damn his house！〃 said Erskine。
Next day they went together to Sallust's House。 It stood in the
midst of an acre of land； waste except a little kitchen garden at
the rear。 The lodge at the entrance was uninhabited； and the
gates stood open； with dust and fallen leaves heaped up against
them。 Free ingress had thus been afforded to two stray ponies； a
goat； and a tramp； who lay asleep in the grass。 His wife sat
near； watching him。
〃I have a mind to turn back；〃 said Sir Charles； looking about him
in disgust。 〃 The place is scandalously neglected。 Look at that
rascal asleep within full view of the windows。〃
〃I admire his cheek；〃 said Erskine。 〃Nice pair of ponies； too。〃
Sallust's House was square and painted cinnamon color。 Beneath
the cornice was a yellow frieze with figures of dancing children；
imitated from the works of Donatello； and very unskilfully
executed。 There was a meagre portico of four columns； painted
red； and a plain pediment； painted yellow。 The colors； meant to
match those of the walls； contrasted disagreeably with them；
having been applied more recently； apparently by a color…blind
artist。 The door beneath the portico stood open。 Sir Charles rang
the bell； and an elderly woman answered it； but before they could
address her； Trefusis appeared； clad in a painter's jacket of
white jean。 Following him in； they found that the house was a
hollow square； enclosing a courtyard with a bath sunk in the
middle； and a fountain in the centre of the bath。 The courtyard；
formerly open to the sky； was now roofed in with dusty glass； the
nymph that had once poured out the water of the fountain was
barren and mutilated； and the bath was partly covered in with
loose boards； the exposed part accommodating a heap of coals in
one corner； a heap of potatoes in another； a beer barrel； some
old carpets； a tarpaulin； and a broken canoe。 The marble pavement
extended to the outer walls of the house； and was roofed in at
the sides by the upper stories；which were supported by fluted
stone columns； much stained and chipped。 The staircase； towards
which Trefusis led his visitors； was a broad one at the end
opposite the door； and gave access to a gallery leading to the
upper rooms。
〃This house was built in 11780 by an ancestor of my mother；〃 said
Trefusis。 〃He passed for a man of exquisite taste。 He wished the
place to be maintained foreverhe actually used that expression
in his willas the family seat； and he collected a fine library
here； which I found useful； as all the books came into my hands
in good condition； most of them with the leaves uncut。 Some
people prize uncut copies of old editions； a dealer gave me three
hundred and fifty pounds for a lot of them。 I came into
possession of a number o