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Hyde Park； lazily enjoying a cigarette and watching the
slow grazing promenade of a pair of snow…geese； the male
looking rather like an albino edition of the russet…hued
female。 Out of the corner of his eye Crosby also noted
with some interest the hesitating hoverings of a human
figure； which had passed and repassed his seat two or
three times at shortening intervals； like a wary crow
about to alight near some possibly edible morsel。
Inevitably the figure came to an anchorage on the bench；
within easy talking distance of its original occupant。
The uncared…for clothes； the aggressive； grizzled beard；
and the furtive； evasive eye of the new…comer bespoke the
professional cadger； the man who would undergo hours of
humiliating tale…spinning and rebuff rather than
adventure on half a day's decent work。
For a while the new…comer fixed his eyes straight in
front of him in a strenuous； unseeing gaze； then his
voice broke out with the insinuating inflection of one
who has a story to retail well worth any loiterer's while
to listen to。
〃It's a strange world；〃 he said。
As the statement met with no response he altered it
to the form of a question。
〃I daresay you've found it to be a strange world；
mister？〃
〃As far as I am concerned；〃 said Crosby； 〃the
strangeness has worn off in the course of thirty…six
years。〃
〃Ah；〃 said the greybeard； 〃I could tell you things
that you'd hardly believe。 Marvellous things that have
really happened to me。〃
〃Nowadays there is no demand for marvellous things
that have really happened；〃 said Crosby discouragingly；
〃the professional writers of fiction turn these things
out so much better。 For instance； my neighbours tell me
wonderful； incredible things that their Aberdeens and
chows and borzois have done； I never listen to them。 On
the other hand； I have read 'The Hound of the
Baskervilles' three times。〃
The greybeard moved uneasily in his seat； then he
opened up new country。
〃I take it that you are a professing Christian；〃 he
observed。
〃I am a prominent and I think I may say an
influential member of the Mussulman community of Eastern
Persia；〃 said Crosby； making an excursion himself into
the realms of fiction。
The greybeard was obviously disconcerted at this new
check to introductory conversation； but the defeat was
only momentary。
〃Persia。 I should never have taken you for a
Persian；〃 he remarked； with a somewhat aggrieved air。
〃I am not；〃 said Crosby； 〃my father was an Afghan。〃
〃An Afghan！〃 said the other； smitten into bewildered
silence for a moment。 Then he recovered himself and
renewed his attack。
〃Afghanistan。 Ah！ We've had some wars with that
country； now； I daresay； instead of fighting it we might
have learned something from it。 A very wealthy country；
I believe。 No real poverty there。〃
He raised his voice on the word 〃poverty〃 with a
suggestion of intense feeling。 Crosby saw the opening
and avoided it。
〃It possesses； nevertheless； a number of highly
talented and ingenious beggars；〃 he said； 〃if I had not
spoken so disparagingly of marvellous things that have
really happened I would tell you the story of Ibrahim and
the eleven camel…loads of blotting…paper。 Also I have
forgotten exactly how it ended。〃
〃My own life…story is a curious one；〃 said the
stranger； apparently stifling all desire to hear the
history of Ibrahim； 〃I was not always as you see me now。〃
〃We are supposed to undergo complete change in the
course of every seven years；〃 said Crosby； as an
explanation of the foregoing announcement。
〃I mean I was not always in such distressing
circumstances as I am at present；〃 pursued the stranger
doggedly。
〃That sounds rather rude；〃 said Crosby stiffly；
〃considering that you are at present talking to a man
reputed to be one of the most gifted conversationalists
of the Afghan border。〃
〃I don't mean in that way；〃 said the greybeard
hastily； 〃I've been very much interested in your
conversation。 I was alluding to my unfortunate financial
situation。 You mayn't hardly believe it； but at the
present moment I am absolutely without a farthing。 Don't
see any prospect of getting any money； either； for the
next few days。 I don't suppose you've ever found
yourself in such a position；〃 he added。
〃In the town of Yom；〃 said Crosby； 〃which is in
Southern Afghanistan； and which also happens to be my
birthplace； there was a Chinese philosopher who used to
say that one of the three chiefest human blessings was to
be absolutely without money。 I forget what the other two
were。〃
〃Ah； I daresay；〃 said the stranger； in a tone that
betrayed no enthusiasm for the philosopher's memory； 〃and
did he practise what he preached？ That's the test。〃
〃He lived happily with very little money or
resources；〃 said Crosby。
〃Then I expect he had friends who would help him
liberally whenever he was in difficulties； such as I am
in at present。〃
〃In Yom；〃 said Crosby； 〃it is not necessary to have
friends in order to obtain help。 Any citizen of Yom
would help a stranger as a matter of course。〃
The greybeard was now genuinely interested。
The conversation had at last taken a favourable
turn。
〃If someone； like me； for instance； who was in
undeserved difficulties； asked a citizen of that town you
speak of for a small loan to tide over a few days'
impecuniosity … five shillings； or perhaps a rather
larger sum … would it be given to him as a matter of
course？〃
〃There would be a certain preliminary；〃 said Crosby；
〃one would take him to a wine…shop and treat him to a
measure of wine； and then； after a little high…flown
conversation； one would put the desired sum in his hand
and wish him good…day。 It is a roundabout way of
performing a simple transaction； but in the East all ways
are roundabout。〃
The listener's eyes were glittering。
〃Ah；〃 he exclaimed； with a thin sneer ringing
meaningly through his words； 〃I suppose you've given up
all those generous customs since you left your town。
Don't practise them now； I expect。〃
〃No one who has lived in Yom；〃 said Crosby
fervently； 〃and remembers its green hills covered with
apricot and almond trees； and the cold water that rushes
down like a caress from the upland snows and dashes under
the little wooden bridges； no one who remembers these
things and treasures the memory of them would ever give
up a single one of its unwritten laws and customs。 To me
they are as binding as though I still lived in that
hallowed home of my youth。〃
〃Then if I was to ask you for a small loan … 〃 began
the greybeard fawningly； edging nearer on the seat and
hurriedly wondering how large he might safely make his
request； 〃if I was to ask you for； say … 〃
〃At any other time； certainly；〃 said Crosby； 〃in the
months of November and December； however； it is
absolutely forbidden for anyone of our race to give or
receive loans or gifts； in fact； one does not willingly
speak of them。 It is considered unlucky。 We will
therefore close this discussion。〃
〃But it is still October！〃 exclaimed the adventurer
with an eager； angry whine； as Crosby rose from his seat；
〃wants eight days to the end of the month！〃
〃The Afghan November began yesterday；〃 said Crosby
severely； and in another moment he was striding across
the Park； leaving his recent companion scowling and
muttering furiously on the seat。
〃I don't believe a word of his story；〃 he chattered
to himself； 〃pack of nasty lies from beginning to end。
Wish I'd told him so to his face。 Calling himself an
Afghan！〃
The snorts and snarls that escaped from him for the
next quarter of an hour went far to support the truth of
the old saying that two of a trade never agree。
THE SCHARTZ…METTERKLUME METHOD
LADY CARLOTTA stepped out on to the platform of the
small wayside station and took a turn or two up and down
its uninteresting length； to kill time till the train
should be pleased to proceed on its way。 Then； in the
roadway beyond； she saw a horse struggling with a more
than ample load； and a carter of the sort that seems to
bear a sullen hatred against the animal that helps him to
earn a living。 Lady Carlotta promptly betook her to the
roadway； and put rather a different complexion on the
struggle。 Certain of her acquaintances were wont to give
her plentiful admonition as to the undesirability of
interfering on behalf of a distressed animal； such
interference being 〃none of her business。〃 Only once had
she put the doctrine of non…interference into practice；
when one of its most eloquent exponents had been besieged
for nearly three hours in a small and extremely