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.