Diary of a Drug Fiend

AA Knight Out 17 except old Owen. As a matter of fact, all I had had was a glass of white wine. Lou had touched nothing at all. She prattled on like the innocent child she was, out of the sheer mirth of her heart. In an ordinary way, I suppose, I should have drunk a lot more than I did. And I didn’t eat much either. Of course, I know now what it was—that much-derided phenomenon, love at first sight. Suddenly we were interrupted. A tall man was shaking hands across the table with Owen. Instead of using any of the ordinary greetings, he said in a very low, clear voice, very clear and vibrant, as though tense with some inscrutable passion :— “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.” There was an uneasy movement in the group. In particular, the German woman seemed distressed by the man’s mere presence. I looked up. Yes, I could understand well enough the change in the weather. Owen was saying— “That’s all right, that’s all right, that’s exactly what I do. You come and see my new group. I'll do another sketch of you—-same day, same time. That’s all right.” Somebody introduced the new-comer—Mr. King Lamus—and murmured our names. “ Sit down right here,” said Owen, ‘‘ what you need is a drink. I know you perfectly well; I’ve known you for years and years and years, and I know you've done a good day’s work, and you've earned a drink. Sit right down and I’ll get the waiter.” I looked at Lamus, who had not uttered a word since his original greeting. There was something appalling in his eyes; they didn’t focus on the foreground. was only an incident of utter insignificance in an illimit- able landscape. His eyes were parallel; they were looking at infinity. Nothing mattered to him. I hated the beast | , By this time the waiter had approached.