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would have brought me in a profit of over seven hundred and fifty
pounds； an unearned increment to which I had no righteous claim。
My solicitor； to whom I mentioned the matter； was of opinion that
I might justifiably pocket the seven hundred and fifty pounds as
reward for my mother's benevolence in buying a presumably
worthless picture from an obscure painter。 But he failed to
convince me that I ought to be paid for my mother's virtues；
though we agreed that neither I nor my mother had received any
return in the shape of pleasure in contemplating the work； which
had deteriorated considerably by the fading of the colors since
its purchase。 At last I went to Brown's studio with the picture；
and told him that it was worth nothing to me； as I thought it a
particularly bad one； and that he might have it back again for
fifteen pounds； half the first price。 He at once told me that I
could get from any dealer more for it than he could afford to
give me； but he told me too that I had no right to make a profit
out of his work； and that he would give me the original price of
thirty pounds。 I took it； and then sent him the man who had
offered me the eight hundred。 To my discomfiture Brown refused to
sell it on any terms； because he considered it unworthy of his
reputation。 The man bid up to fifteen hundred； but Brown held
out； and I found that instead of putting seven hundred and
seventy pounds into his pocket I had taken thirty out of it。 I
accordingly offered to return the thirty pieces。 Brown； taking
the offer as an insult； declined all further communication with
me。 I then insisted on the matter being submitted to arbitration；
and demanded fifteen hundred pounds as the full exchange value of
the picture。 All the arbitrators agreed that this was monstrous；
whereupon I contended that if they denied my right to the value
in exchange； they must admit my right to the value in use。 They
assented to this after putting off their decision for a fortnight
in order to read Adam Smith and discover what on earth I meant by
my values in use and exchange。 I now showed that the picture had
no value in use to me； as I disliked it； and that therefore I was
entitled to nothing； and that Brown must take back the thirty
pounds。 They were glad to concede this also to me； as they were
all artist friends of Brown； and wished him not to lose money by
the transaction； though they of course privately thought that the
picture was； as I described it； a bad one。 After that Brown and I
became very good friends。 He tolerated my advances； at first lest
it should seem that he was annoyed by my disparagement of his
work。 Subsequently he fell into my views much as you have done。〃
〃That is very interesting；〃 said Sir Charles。 〃What a noble
thingrefusing fifteen hundred pounds！ He could ill afford it；
probably。〃
〃Heroicaccording to nineteenth century notions of heroism。
Voluntarily to throw away a chance of making money！ that is the
ne plus ultra of martyrdom。 Brown's wife was extremely angry with
him for doing it。〃
〃It is an interesting storyor might be made so；〃 said Erskine。
〃But you make my head spin with your confounded exchange values
and stuff。 Everything is a question of figures with you。〃
〃That comes of my not being a poet；〃 said Trefusis。 〃But we
Socialists need to study the romantic side of our movement to
interest women in it。 If you want to make a cause grow； instruct
every woman you meet in it。 She is or will one day be a wife； and
will contradict her husband with scraps of your arguments。 A
squabble will follow。 The son will listen； and will be set
thinking if he be capable of thought。 And so the mind of the
people gets leavened。 I have converted many young women。 Most of
them know no more of the economic theory of Socialism than they
know of Chaldee； but they no longer fear or condemn its name。 Oh；
I assure you that much can be done in that way by men who are not
afraid of women； and who are not in too great a hurry to see the
harvest they have sown for。〃
〃Take care。 Some of your lady proselytes may get the better of
you some day。 The future husband to be contradicted may be Sidney
Trefusis。 Ha！ ha！ ha！〃 Sir Charles had emptied a second large
goblet of wine； and was a little flushed and boisterous。
〃No；〃 said Trefusis； 〃I have had enough of love myself； and am
not likely to inspire it。 Women do not care for men to whom； as
Erskine says； everything is a question of figures。 I used to
flirt with women； now I lecture them； and abhor a man…flirt worse
than I do a woman one。 Some more wine？ Oh； you must not waste the
remainder of this bottle。〃
〃I think we had better go； Brandon；〃 said Erskine； his mistrust
of Trefusis growing。 〃We promised to be back before two。〃
〃So you shall；〃 said Trefusis。 〃It is not yet a quarter past one。
By…the…bye； I have not shown you Donovan Brown's pet instrument
for the regeneration of society。 Here it is。 A monster petition
praying that the holding back from the laborer of any portion of
the net value produced by his labor be declared a felony。 That is
all。〃
Erskine nudged Sir Charles； who said hastily； 〃Thank you； but I
had rather not sign anything。〃
〃A baronet sign such a petition！〃 exclaimed Trefusis。 〃I did not
think of asking you。 I only show it to you as an interesting
historical document； containing the autographs of a few artists
and poets。 There is Donovan Brown's for example。 It was he who
suggested the petition； which is not likely to do much good； as
the thing cannot be done in any such fashion However； I have
promised Brown to get as many signatures as I can； so you may as
well sign it； Erskine。 It says nothing in blank verse about the
holiness of slaying a tyrant； but it is a step in the right
direction。 You will not stick at such a trifleunless the
reviews have frightened you。 Come； your name and address。〃
Erskine shook his head。
〃Do you then only commit yourself to revolutionary sentiments
when there is a chance of winning fame as a poet by them？〃
〃I will not sign； simply because I do not choose to；〃 said
Erskine warmly。
〃My dear fellow；〃 said Trefusis； almost affectionately； 〃if a man
has a conscience he can have no choice in matters of conviction。
I have read somewhere in your book that the man who will not shed
his blood for the liberty of his brothers is a coward and a
slave。 Will you not shed a drop of inkmy ink； toofor the
right of your brothers to the work of their hands？ I at first
sight did not care to sign this petition； because I would as soon
petition a tiger to share his prey with me as our rulers to relax
their grip of the stolen labor they live on。 But Donovan Brown
said to me； 'You have no choice。 Either you believe that the
laborer should have the fruit of his labor or you do not。 If you
do； put your conviction on record； even if it should be as
useless as Pilate's washing his hands。' So I signed。〃
〃Donovan Brown was right；〃 said Sir Charles。 〃I will sign。〃 And
he did so with a flourish。
〃Brown will be delighted；〃 said Trefusis。 〃I will write to him
to…day that I have got another good signature for him。〃
〃Two more；〃 said Sir Charles。 〃You shall sign； Erskine； hang me
if you shan't！ It is only against rascals that run away without
paying their men their wages。〃
〃Or that don't pay them in full；〃 observed Trefusis； with a
curious smile。 〃But do not sign if you feel uncomfortable about
it。〃
〃If you don't sign after me； you are a sneak； Chester；〃 said Sir
Charles。
〃I don't know what it means；〃 said Erskine； wavering。 〃I don't
understand petitions。〃
〃It means what it says； you cannot be held responsible for any
meaning that is not expressed in it；〃 said Trefusis。 〃But never
mind。 You mistrust me a little； I fancy； and would rather not
meddle with my petitions； but you will think better of that as
you grow used to me。 Meanwhile； there is no hurry。 Don't sign
yet。〃
〃Nonsense！ I don't doubt your good faith；〃 said Erskine； hastily
disavowing suspicions which he felt but could not account for。
〃Here goes！〃 And he signed。
〃Well done！〃 said Trefusis。 〃This will make Brown happy for the
rest of the month。〃
〃It is time for us to go now；〃 said Erskine gloomily。
〃Look in upon me at any time； you shall be welcome；〃 said
Trefusis。 〃You need not stand upon any sort of ceremony。〃
Then they parted； Sir Charles assuring Trefusis that he had never
spent a more interesting morning； and shaking hands with him at
considerable length three times。 Erskine said little until he was
in the Riverside Road with his friend； when he suddenly burst
out：
〃What the devil do you mean by drinking two tumblers of such
staggering stuff at one o'clock in the day in the house of a
dangerous man like that？ I am very sorry I went into the fellow's
place。 I had misgivings about it； and they have been fully borne
out。〃
〃How so？〃 said Sir Charles； taken aback。
〃He has overreached us。 I was a deuced fool to sign that paper；
and so were you。 It was for that that he invited us。〃
〃Rubbish； my dear boy。 It was not his paper； but Donovan
Brown's。〃
〃I doubt it。 Most likely he talked Brown into signing it just as
he talked us。 I tell you his ways are a