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rs； the famous paintings they were thought to resemble； now it was over and in the bleak light of day they must go back to their homes； to the husband who came to London too often； to the lover who lost at cards； and to the child who grew too fast。
Anthony Blanche's set broke up and became a bare dozen lethargic； adolescent Englishmen。 Sometimes in later life they would say： 'Do you remember that extraordinary fellow we used all to know at Oxford … Anthony Blanche？ I wonder what became of him。' They lumbered back into the herd from which they had been so capriciously chosen and grew less and less individually recognizable。 The change was not so apparent to them as to us； and they still congregated on occasions in our rooms； but we gave up seeking them。 Instead we formed the taste for lower pany and spent our evenings； as often as not； in Hogarthian little inns in St Ebb's and St Clement's and the streets between the old market and the canal； where we managed to be gay and were； I believe； well liked by the pany。 The Gardener's Arms and the Nag's Head； the Druid's Head near the theatre； and the Turf in Hell Passage knew us well； but in the last of these we were liable to meet other undergraduates pub…crawling hearties from BNC … and Sebastian became possessed by a kind of phobia； like that which sometimes es over men in uniform against their own service； so that many an evening was spoilt by their intrusion； and he would leave his glass half empty and turn sulkily back to college。
It was thus that Lady Marchmain found us when； early in that Michaelmas term； she came for a week to Oxford。 She found Sebastian subdued； with all his host of friends reduced to one； myself。 She accepted me as Sebastian's friend and sought to make me hers also； and in doing so； unwittingly struck at the roots of our friendship。 That is the single reproach I have to set against her abundant kindness to me。
Her business in Oxford was with Mr Samgrass of All Souls； who now began to play an increasingly large part in our lives。 Lady Marchmain was engaged in making a memorial book for circulation among her friends； about her brother； Ned； the eldest of three legendary heroes all killed between Mons and Passchendaele； he had left a； quantity of papers … poems； letters； speeches； articles； to edit them； even for a restricted circle； needed tact and countless decisions in which the judgement of an adoring sister was liable to err。 Acknowledging this； she had sought outside advice； and Mr Samgrass had been found to help her。
He was a young history don； a short； plump man； dapper in dress； with sparse hair brushed flat on an over…large head； neat hands； small feet； and the general appearance of being too often bathed。 His manner was genial and his speech idiosyncratic。 We came to know him well。
It was Mr Samgrass's particular aptitude to help others with their work； but he was himself the author of several stylish little books。 He was a great delver in muniment…rooms and had a sharp nose for the picturesque。 Sebastian spoke less than the truth when he described him as 'someone of mummy's'； he was someone of almost everyone's who possessed anything to attract him。
Mr Samgrass was a genealogist and a legitimist； he loved dispossessed royalty and knew the exact validity of the rival claims of the pretenders to many thrones； he was not a man of religious habit； but he knew more than most Catholics about their Church； he had friends in the Vatican and could talk at length of policy and appointments； saying which contemporary ecclesiastics were in good favour； which in bad； what recent theological hypothesis was suspect； and how this or that Jesuit or Dominican had skated on thin ice or sailed near the wind in his Lenten discourses； he had everything except the Faith； and later liked to attend benediction in the chapel of Brideshead and see the ladies of the family with their necks arched in devotion under their black lace mantillas； he loved forgotten scandals in high life and was an expert in putative parentage； he claimed to love the past； but I always felt that he thought all the splendid pany； living or dead； with whom he associated slightly absurd； it was Mr Samgrass who was real； the rest were an insubstantial pageant。 He was the Victorian tourist； solid and patronizing； for whose amusement these foreign things were paraded。 And there was something a little too brisk about his literary manners； I suspected the existence of a dictaphone somewhere in his panelled rooms。
He was with Lady Marchmain when I first met them； and I thought then that she could not have found a greater contrast to herself than this intellectual…on…the…make； nor a better foil to her own charm。 It was not her way to make a conspicuous entry into anyone's life； but towards the end of that week Sebastian said rather sourly： 'You and mummy seem very thick；' and I realized that in fact I was being drawn into intimacy by swift； imperceptible stages； for she was impatient of any human relationship that fell short of it。 By the time that she left I had promised to spend all next vacation； except Christmas itself； at Brideshead。
One Monday morning a week or two later I was in Sebastian's room waiting for him to return from a tutorial； when Julia walked in； followed by a large man whom she introduced as 'Mr Mottram' and addressed as 'Rex'。 They were motoring up from a house where they had spent the week…end； they explained。 Rex Mottram was warm and confident in a check ulster； Julia cold and rather shy in furs； she made straight for the fire and crouched over it shivering。
'We hoped Sebastian might give us luncheon；' she said。 'Failing him we can always try Boy Mulcaster； but I somehow thought we should eat better with Sebastian； and we're very hungry。 We've been literally starved all the week…end at the Chasms。'
'He and Sebastian are both lunching with me。 e too。'
So； without demur； they joined the party in my rooms； one of the last of the old kind that I gave。 Rex Mottram exerted himself to make an impression。 He was a handsome fellow with dark hair growing low on his forehead and heavy black eyebrows。 He spoke with an engaging Canadian accent。 One quickly learned all that he wished one to know about him； that he was a lucky man with money； a member of parliament； a gambler； a good fellow； that he played golf regularly with the Prince of Wales and was on easy terms with 'Max' and 'F。E。' and 'Gertie' Lawrence and Augustus John and Carpentier … with anyone； it seemed； who happened to be mentioned。 Of the University he said： 'No； I was never here。 It just means you start life three years behind the other fellow。'
His life； so far as he made it known； began in the war； where he had got a good M。C。 serving with the Canadians and had ended as A。D。C。 to a popular general。
He cannot have been more than thirty at the time we met him； but he seemed very old to us in Oxford。 Julia treated him； as she seemed to treat all the world； with mild disdain； but with an air of possession。 During luncheon she sent him to the car for her cigarettes； and once or twice when he was talking very big； she apologized for him； saying： 'Remember he's a colonial；' to which he replied with boisterous laughter。
When he had gone I asked who he was。
'Oh； just someone of Julia's；' said Sebastian。
We were slightly surprised a week later to get a telegram from him asking us and Boy Mulcaster to dinner in London on the following night for 'a party of Julia's'。
'I don't think he knows anyone young；' said Sebastian； 'all his friends are leathery old sharks in the City and the House of mons。 Shall we go？'
We discussed it； and because our life at Oxford was now so much in the shadows； we decided that we would。
'Why does he want Boy？'
'Julia and I have known him all our lives。 I suppose； finding him at lunch with you； he thought he was a chum。'
We had no great liking for Mulcaster； but the three of us were in high spirits when； having got leave for the night from our colleges； we drove off on the London road in Hardcastle's car。
We were to spend the night at Marchmain House。 We went there to dress and； while we dressed； drank a bottle of champagne； going in and out of one another's rooms which were together three floors up and rather shabby pared with the splendours below。 As we came downstairs Julia passed us going up to her room still in her day clothes。
'I'm going to be late；' she said； 'you boys had better go on to Rex's。 It's heavenly of you to e。'
'What is this party？'
'A ghastly charity ball I'm involved with。 Rex insisted on giving a dinner party for it。 See you there。'
Rex Mottram lived within walking distance of Marchmain House。
'Julia's going to be late；' we said； 'she's only just gone up to dress。'
'That means an hour。 We'd better have some wine。' A woman who was introduced as 'Mrs Champion' said： 'I'm sure she'd sooner we started； Rex。'
'Well； let's have some wine first anyway。'
'Why a Jeroboam； Rex？' she said peevishly。 'You always want to have everything too big。'
'Won't be too big for us；' he said； taking the bottle in his own hands and easing the cork。
There were two girls ther