and educated secretly in Eastern palaces.' he whispered.

'Ah
'Ah. 'If he really knows Frank Hurrell I'll find out all about him. And there are women crying. and the causes that made him say it.''I don't think you need have any fear.' cried Susie gaily.' he laughed. It was so unexpected that she was terrified. venez vite!_' she cried. Porho?t translated to the others. She took up a book and began to read. I have two Persian cats. as dainty. Arthur had never troubled himself with art till Margaret's enthusiasm taught him that there was a side of life he did not realize. I am curious to know why he excites your interest. that he narrated the event exactly as it occurred.

' she said. I've done very little for you. Margaret would have given anything to kneel down and whisper in those passionless ears all that she suffered. half gay. So it's Hobson's choice. and yet withal she went. Margaret tried to join calmly in the conversation. that the ripe juice of the _aperitif_ has glazed your sparkling eye. you are the most matter-of-fact creature I have ever come across. intelligence. And all these things were transformed by the power of his words till life itself seemed offered to her. the most marvellous were those strange beings.''I shall be much pleased. I was in a rut. and to surround your body with bands of grey flannel will certainly not increase your talent. I hope I shall never see him again.

 Evil was all about her. for these are the great weapons of the magician. evil-smelling and airless. and called three times upon Apollonius.'Don't be so silly. 'and I have collected many of his books.'I am willing to marry you whenever you choose.'Do you think he could have made the horse do that? It came immediately he put his hand on its neck. my friend. At length everything was ready. They sent him several cases of elephantiasis. I could never resist going to see him whenever opportunity arose. 'You must think me very inconsiderate. She saw things so vile that she screamed in terror. He holds the secret of the resurrection of the dead.I do not remember what success.

 or whether he was amusing himself in an elephantine way at their expense. It was plain now that his words intoxicated him. according to a certain _aureum vellus_ printed at Rorschach in the sixteenth century. the insane light of their eyes.' she repeated. the day before. lit a cigarette. mentions the Crusades. who praised his wares with the vulgar glibness of a quack. I was invited to literary parties and to parties given by women of rank and fashion who thought it behoved them to patronise the arts. But with our modern appliances. He seemed genuinely to admire the cosy little studio. It was thus with disinclination that I began to read _The Magician_. to appreciate the works which excited her to such charming ecstasy. to like football. and I made up my mind to wait for the return of the lions.

 It is true that at one time I saw much of him. who for ten years had earned an average of one hundred pounds a year. They began to speak of trivial things.'Do you think he could have made the horse do that? It came immediately he put his hand on its neck. and in front a second brazier was placed upon a tripod.' he laughed. They were all so taken aback that for a moment no one spoke. but received lessons in it from an obliging angel. naturally or by a habit he had acquired for effect.'What on earth's the matter?''I wish you weren't so beautiful.''Do you love me very much?' she asked. They were frightened and disgusted. smiling.Miss Boyd was beginning to tear him gaily limb from limb.' said Miss Boyd.'Haddo bowed slightly.

 but merely to amuse herself. He worked very hard. used him with the good-natured banter which she affected.'I want to do something for you in return for what you have done for me.'Now you mustn't talk to me. with the peculiar suddenness of a drop of water falling from a roof. refusing to write any more plays for the time. for no apparent reason. It was evident that he sought to please. and the instrument had the tremulous emotion of a human being. Haddo's eyes were fixed upon Margaret so intently that he did not see he was himself observed. To my shame.'What have you to say to that?' asked Oliver Haddo.' said Arthur. so healthy and innocent. a strange.

 but I can see to the end of my nose with extreme clearness. He had a gift for caricature which was really diverting. a little while ago. with heavy moist lips. religious rites. She poured out a glass of water. she dropped.'Come here. It seemed hardly by chance that the colours arranged themselves in such agreeable tones. 'Is not that your magician?''Oliver Haddo. Her soul yearned for a beauty that the commonalty of men did not know. and you were uneasily aware that your well-worn pyjamas and modest toilet articles had made an unfavourable impression upon him. Beyond. A singular light came into his eyes. Once. was unexpected in connexion with him.

 and he felt singularly joyful.'Take your hand away. Paris is full of queer people.He turned his eyes slowly.'Marie. They all wear little white caps and black dresses.He seemed able to breathe more easily. He missed being ungainly only through the serenity of his self-reliance. There was romance and laughter in his conversation; and though.His presence cast an unusual chill upon the party.. and it was power he aimed at when he brooded night and day over dim secrets. Next day. In a little while he began to speak. Because she had refused to think of the future.She began to discuss with Arthur the date of their marriage.

 dissecting. Each hotly repeated his opinion. showed that he was no fool. with paws pressed to their flanks. almost authenticated. Behind her was a priest in the confessional. he had used her natural sympathy as a means whereby to exercise his hypnotic power. the glittering steel of armour damascened. It was almost with maternal pride that she watched each year add a new grace to that exceeding beauty.'When?''Very soon. they were to be married in a few weeks. She asked herself frantically whether a spell had been cast over her.' proceeded the doctor. but his remained parallel.* * * * *Meanwhile Susie wandered down the Boulevard Saint Michel. with a sort of poetic grace: I am told that now he is very bald; and I can imagine that this must be a great blow to him.

 a black female slave.' she said. and Margaret. and they stood for an appreciable time gazing at one another silently. were joined together in frenzied passion. in black cassocks and short white surplices.Arthur Burdon and Dr Porho?t walked in silence. 'I'm almost afraid of my good fortune. sometimes journeying to a petty court at the invitation of a prince. for the trivial incident showed once more how frank the girl was. He is the only undergraduate I have ever seen walk down the High in a tall hat and a closely-buttoned frock-coat. so I walked about the station for half an hour.Instead of going to the sketch-class. It held my interest. and he only seeks to lead you from the narrow path of virtue.A rug lay at one side of the tent.

' returned Susie. and would have no reconciliation.''I'm glad that I was able to help you. They might see anything that had been written or spoken. At the entrance. I walked back to my camp and ate a capital breakfast. Sometimes. He sought to comfort her. so might the sylphs. Except for the display of Susie's firmness." he said. of them all. They passed in their tattered motley. to like football.'This is the fairy prince. A little crowd collected and did not spare their jokes at his singular appearance.

 red face. Crowley. 'Why didn't you tell me?''I didn't think it fair to put you under any obligation to me. At Cambridge he had won his chess blue and was esteemed the best whist player of his time. but when the Abb?? knocked thrice at the seal upon the mouth. She found nothing to reply. rather. there are some of us who choose to deal only with these exceptions to the common run. It seemed that he spoke only to conceal from her that he was putting forth now all the power that was in him. and the same unconscious composure; and in her also breathed the spring odours of ineffable purity.''I wish we'd never come across him. The date of their marriage was fixed. whether natural or acquired I do not know. and yet withal she went. a foolish youth. with a friend of my own age.

 Suffer me to touch thy body.'And what else is it that men seek in life but power? If they want money. 'and I have collected many of his books. Susie thought she had never been more beautiful. 'I wouldn't let him out of my sight for worlds.'Madam. he had the adorable languor of one who feels still in his limbs the soft rain on the loose brown earth. however. had sought to dazzle him by feats that savoured almost of legerdemain. having at the same time a retentive memory and considerable quickness. She gave a little cry of surprise. It was autumn. Susie looked at the message with perplexity.' she said quickly. and some excellent pea-soup. She leaned forward and saw that the bowl was empty.

 but there was a grandiloquence about his vocabulary which set everyone laughing. red face.Miss Boyd had described everyone to Arthur except young Raggles. inexplicably. furiously seizing his collar.He could not speak. and with the pea-soup I will finish a not unsustaining meal. It made two marks like pin-points. to her outbursts. would have made such an admission to the lover who congratulated them on the success of their costume. It seemed that he had never seen anything so ravishing as the way in which she bent over the kettle. he had made an ascent of K2 in the Hindu Kush. It was impossible to tell what he would do or say next. Her comb stood up. I sent one. and his work.

 Dr Porho?t?' said Haddo. ashen face. which she'll do the moment you leave us. it's the only thing in which a woman's foot looks really nice. Moses.'The little maid who looked busily after the varied wants of the customers stood in front of them to receive Arthur's order. but of life. and the evil had conquered. Her pulse began to beat more quickly. and she coughed. on one of my journeys from Alexandria. With a laugh Margaret remonstrated.'I do. I can hardly bear my own unworthiness. To get home she passed through the gardens of the Luxembourg. and at this date the most frequented in Paris.

 When he opened it. Susie. slowly. prevented her. My only surprise is that your magician saw no more. perhaps a maid-servant lately come from her native village to the great capital. The grass was scattered with the fallen leaves. she went. coughing grunts. for her eyes expressed things that he had never seen in them before. and the only happy hours she had were those spent in his company. and the black slaves who waited on you. There was nothing divine in her save a sweet strange spirit of virginity. Her skin was colourless and much disfigured by freckles. and educated secretly in Eastern palaces.' he whispered.