Part 23 (1/2)

The felloas only a poet He negligently dropped him five fivers, his share of the option's value

Mr Marrier said nothing, but his eye met Edward Henry's, and in silence five fivers were ht these persons who apparently seldon receipts, all of you, just as a matter of form,” said Edward Henry

A little later the three associates were off

”As we're both in the hotel, Mr Sachs,” said Edward Henry, ”you ht stay for a chat and a drink”

Mr Seven Sachs politely agreed

Edward Henry accompanied the trio of worshi+ppers and worshi+pped to the door of his suite, but no further, because of his dressing-gown Rose Euclid had assu imperially for the lift Lackeys bowed humbly before them They spoke of taxi-cabs and other luxuries They were perfectly at horandeur of the hotel As the illu heads disappearing last, they seemed exactly like persons of extreme wealth And indeed for the moment they ealthy They had parted with certain hopes, but they had had a windfall; and two of the forith absolute assurance to a profitable rim on the morrow

”Funny place, London!” said the provincial to himself as he re-entered his suite to rejoin Mr Seven Sachs

III

”Well, sir,” said Mr Seven Sachs, ”I have to thank you for getting me out of a very unsatisfactory situation”

”Did you really want to get out of it?” asked Edward Henry

Mr Sachs replied simply:

”I did, sir There were too many partners for my taste”

They were seatedindeed separated only by a sht in the previous week Edward Henry had been entertained by Mr Bryany in a private parlour at the Turk's Head, Hanbridge, on this night he was in a sort repaying the welcome to Mr Bryany's master in a private parlour at Wilkins's, London The sole difference in favour of Mr Bryany was that while Mr Bryany provided cigarettes and whisky, Edward Henry was providing only cigarettes and Vichy water

Mr Seven Sachs had said that he never took whisky; and though Edward Henry's passion for Vichy water was not quite ungovernable, he thought well to give rein to it on the present occasion, having read somewhere that Vichy water placated the stomach

Joseph had been instructed to retire

”And not only that,” resu entirely into your own hands! Masterly, sir! Masterly! Why, at the end you positively had the air of doing the them a favour”

”And don't you think I was?”

Mr Sachs reflected, and then laughed

”You were,” he said ”That's the beauty of it But at the saoods!”

It was by sheer instinct, and not by learning, that Edward Henry fully grasped, as he did, the deep significance of the Ahed, as Mr Sachs had laughed

He was immeasurably flattered He had not been so flattered since the Countess of Chell had perues, and Berlin pancakes at the Sub Rosa tea-rooo

”You really _do_ think it's a good thing?” Edward Henry ventured, for he had not yet been convinced of the entire goodness of theatrical enterprise near Piccadilly Circus

Mr Seven Sachs convinced hiestures and tones For it was impossible to question that Mr