Part 24 (1/2)

”Bryany is a highly peculiar person,” said Mr Seven Sachs, fa as you don't unstrap hireatness”

”I had a bit of a talk with him myself,” said Edward Henry

”Oh, yes! He toldabout myself,” said Edward Henry, quickly

”No, but he has eyes, you know, and ears too Seeht but discuss you, Mr

Machin _I_ heard a good bit when _I_ was down there, though I don't go about raphy of you”

Edward Henry smiled self-consciously He was, of course, enraptured, but at the sa to find Mr Sachs already so fully informed as to the details of his career However, he did not intend to let that prevent hi the story afresh, in his own manner

”I suppose you've had your adventures, too,” he remarked with nonchalance, partly from politeness but otism

IV

”You bet I have!” Mr Seven Sachs cordially agreed, abandoning the end of a cigarette, putting his hands behind his head, and crossing his legs

Whereupon there was a brief pause

”I rean

”I daresay you've heard--” began Mr Seven Sachs, simultaneously

They were like two h a narrow doorway abreast Edward Henry, as the host, drew back

”I beg your pardon!” he apologized

”Not at all,” said Seven Sachs ”I was only going to say you've probably heard that I was always up against Archibald Florance”

”Really!” murmured Edward Henry, impressed in spite of himself For the renown of Archibald Florance exceeded that of Seven Sachs as the sun the moon, and was older and more securely established than it as the sun the ht to it

Doubtful it hether, in the annals of randeur and the romance of that American name could be surpassed by any renown save that of the inco The retiree a couple of years earlier had caused crileams of sunset splendour to shoot across the Atlantic and irradiate even the Garrick Club, London, so that the members thereof had to shade their offended eyes Edward Henry had never seen Archibald Florance, but it was not necessary to have seen hilory No raphed, and few have been the subject of more anecdotes

”I expect he's a wealthy chap in his old age,” said Edward Henry

”Wealthy!” exclaimed Mr Sachs ”He's the richest actor in Areatest reputation He's still the handsomest man in the United States--that's admitted--with his white hair! They used to say he was the cruellest, but it's not so Though of course he could be a perfect terror with his companies”

”And so you knew Archibald Florance?”

”You bet I did He never had any friends--never--but I knew him as well as anybody could Why, in San Francisco, after the show, I've walked with him back to his hotel, and he's walked with me back to mine, and so on and so on till three or four o'clock in the

You see, we couldn't stop until it happened that he finished a cigar at the exact ar wasn't finished, then he must needs stroll back a bit, and before I knehere I was he'd be lighting a fresh one He s me they cost him three dollars apiece”

And Edward Henry then perceived another profound truth, his second cardinal discovery on that notable evening: nah you rise, you will always find that others have risen higher