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marking the haunts of those other people； who held their
own in life's struggle； or at any rate had not had to
admit failure。 So Gortsby's imagination pictured things
as he sat on his bench in the almost deserted walk。 He
was in the mood to count himself among the defeated。
Money troubles did not press on him； had he so wished he
could have strolled into the thoroughfares of light and
noise； and taken his place among the jostling ranks of
those who enjoyed prosperity or struggled for it。 He had
failed in a more subtle ambition； and for the moment he
was heartsore and disillusionised； and not disinclined to
take a certain cynical pleasure in observing and
labelling his fellow wanderers as they went their ways in
the dark stretches between the lamp…lights。
On the bench by his side sat an elderly gentleman
with a drooping air of defiance that was probably the
remaining vestige of self…respect in an individual who
had ceased to defy successfully anybody or anything。 His
clothes could scarcely be called shabby； at least they
passed muster in the half…light； but one's imagination
could not have pictured the wearer embarking on the
purchase of a half…crown box of chocolates or laying out
ninepence on a carnation buttonhole。 He belonged
unmistakably to that forlorn orchestra to whose piping no
one dances； he was one of the world's lamenters who
induce no responsive weeping。 As he rose to go Gortsby
imagined him returning to a home circle where he was
snubbed and of no account； or to some bleak lodging where
his ability to pay a weekly bill was the beginning and
end of the interest he inspired。 His retreating figure
vanished slowly into the shadows； and his place on the
bench was taken almost immediately by a young man； fairly
well dressed but scarcely more cheerful of mien than his
predecessor。 As if to emphasise the fact that the world
went badly with him the new…corner unburdened himself of
an angry and very audible expletive as he flung himself
into the seat。
〃You don't seem in a very good temper；〃 said
Gortsby； judging that he was expected to take due notice
of the demonstration。
The young man turned to him with a look of disarming
frankness which put him instantly on his guard。
〃You wouldn't be in a good temper if you were in the
fix I'm in；〃 he said； 〃I've done the silliest thing I've
ever done in my life。〃
〃Yes？〃 said Gortsby dispassionately。
〃Came up this afternoon； meaning to stay at the
Patagonian Hotel in Berkshire Square；〃 continued the
young man； 〃when I got there I found it had been pulled
down some weeks ago and a cinema theatre run up on the
site。 The taxi driver recommended me to another hotel
some way off and I went there。 I just sent a letter to
my people； giving them the address； and then I went out
to buy some soap … I'd forgotten to pack any and I hate
using hotel soap。 Then I strolled about a bit； had a
drink at a bar and looked at the shops； and when I came
to turn my steps back to the hotel I suddenly realised
that I didn't remember its name or even what street it
was in。 There's a nice predicament for a fellow who
hasn't any friends or connections in London！ Of course I
can wire to my people for the address； but they won't
have got my letter till to…morrow； meantime I'm without
any money； came out with about a shilling on me； which
went in buying the soap and getting the drink； and here I
am； wandering about with twopence in my pocket and
nowhere to go for the night。〃
There was an eloquent pause after the story had been
told。 〃I suppose you think I've spun you rather an
impossible yarn；〃 said the young man presently；with a
suggestion of resentment in his voice。
〃Not at all impossible；〃 said Gortsby judicially； 〃I
remember doing exactly the same thing once in a foreign
capital； and on that occasion there were two of us； which
made it more remarkable。 Luckily we remembered that the
hotel was on a sort of canal； and when we struck the
canal we were able to find our way back to the hotel。〃
The youth brightened at the reminiscence。 〃In a
foreign city I wouldn't mind so much；〃 he said； 〃one
could go to one's Consul and get the requisite help from
him。 Here in one's own land one is far more derelict if
one gets into a fix。 Unless I can find some decent chap
to swallow my story and lend me some money I seem likely
to spend the night on the Embankment。 I'm glad； anyhow；
that you don't think the story outrageously improbable。〃
He threw a good deal of warmth into the last remark；
as though perhaps to indicate his hope that Gortsby did
not fall far short of the requisite decency。
〃Of course；〃 said Gortsby slowly； 〃the weak point of
your story is that you can't produce the soap。〃
The young man sat forward hurriedly； felt rapidly in
the pockets of his overcoat； and then jumped to his feet。
〃I must have lost it；〃 he muttered angrily。
〃To lose an hotel and a cake of soap on one
afternoon suggests wilful carelessness；〃 said Gortsby；
but the young man scarcely waited to hear the end of the
remark。 He flitted away down the path； his head held
high； with an air of somewhat jaded jauntiness。
〃It was a pity；〃 mused Gortsby； 〃the going out to
get one's own soap was the one convincing touch in the
whole story； and yet it was just that little detail that
brought him to grief。 If he had had the brilliant
forethought to provide himself with a cake of soap；
wrapped and sealed with all the solicitude of the
chemist's counter； he would have been a genius in his
particular line。 In his particular line genius certainly
consists of an infinite capacity for taking precautions。〃
With that reflection Gortsby rose to go； as he did
so an exclamation of concern escaped him。 Lying on the
ground by the side of the bench was a small oval packet；
wrapped and sealed with the solicitude of a chemist's
counter。 It could be nothing else but a cake of soap；
and it had evidently fallen out of the youth's overcoat
pocket when he flung himself down on the seat。 In
another moment Gortsby was scudding along the dusk…
shrouded path in anxious quest for a youthful figure in a
light overcoat。 He had nearly given up the search when
he caught sight of the object of his pursuit standing
irresolutely on the border of the carriage drive；
evidently uncertain whether to strike across the Park or
make for the bustling pavements of Knightsbridge。 He
turned round sharply with an air of defensive hostility
when he found Gortsby hailing him。
〃The important witness to the genuineness of your
story has turned up；〃 said Gortsby； holding out the cake
of soap； 〃it must have slid out of your overcoat pocket
when you sat down on the seat。 I saw it on the ground
after you left。 You must excuse my disbelief； but
appearances were really rather against you； and now； as I
appealed to the testimony of the soap I think I ought to
abide by its verdict。 If the loan of a sovereign is any
good to you … 〃
The young man hastily removed all doubt on the
subject by pocketing the coin。
〃Here is my card with my address；〃 continued
Gortsby； 〃any day this week will do for returning the
money； and here is the soap … don't lose it again it's
been a good friend to you。〃
〃Lucky thing your finding it；〃 said the youth； and
then； with a catch in his voice； he blurted out a word or
two of thanks and fled headlong in the direction of
Knightsbridge。
〃Poor boy； he as nearly as possible broke down；〃
said Gortsby to himself。 〃I don't wonder either； the
relief from his quandary must have been acute。 It's a
lesson to me not to be too clever in judging by
circumstances。〃
As Gortsby retraced his steps past the seat where
the little drama had taken place he saw an elderly
gentleman poking and peering beneath it and on all sides
of it； and recognised his earlier fellow occupant。
〃Have you lost anything； sir？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； sir； a cake of soap。〃
A TOUCH OF REALISM
〃I HOPE you've come full of suggestions for
Christmas；〃 said Lady Blonze to her latest arrived guest；
〃the old…fashioned Christmas and the up…to…date Christmas
are both so played out。 I want to have something really
original this year。〃
〃I was staying with the Mathesons last month；〃 said
Blanche Boveal eagerly； 〃and we had such a good idea。
Every one in the house…party had to be a character and
behave consistently all the time； and at the end of the
visit one had to guess what every one's character was。
The one who was voted to have acted his or her character
best got a prize。〃
〃It sounds amusing；〃 said Lady Blonze。
〃I was St。 Francis of Assisi；〃 continued Blanche；
〃we hadn't got to kee