than Paul, Don also was responsive to
environment, and he found himself endeavouring to analyse the impression
made upon his mind by Paul's study.

He had last seen it during the time that Paul, newly returned from
Florence, was passing the proofs of his great tragedy, _Francesca of the
Lilies_. Then it had been the study of a Cardinal of the Middle Ages or
of a mediaeval noble devoted to the arts. In what respect did it differ
now? The massive table of cedar of Lebanon, figured in ivory and mother
o' pearl with the Rape of Proserpine, the work of a pupil of Benvenuto
Cellini, remained, as also did the prie-dieu, enriched with silver
daisies, which Michelangelo had designed for Margaret of Navarre. The
jewelled crucifix was gone, together with the old chain bible and ebony
lectern from the Cistercian Monastery at La Trappe. The curious chalice,
too, of porphyry starred with beryl, taken at the sack of Panama, and
recovered a century later from an inn at Saragossa, had disappeared from
its place; and where illuminated missals and monkish books had formerly
lain upon the long window seat were works dealing with the war,
associated with its causes or arising out of it: Ambassador Gerard to
_The Book of Artemas_, _God the Invisible King_ and _Also Sprach
Zarathustra_. Even the magnificent _Book of Hours_ bearing the monogram
of Diana of Poictiers and bound by Aldo Manuzio, Byzantine fashion, in
carved ivory wreathed about with gold filigree and studded with fourteen
precious stones, was hidden.

Those tapestries for which Paul had paid so extravagant a price at the
sale of the Mayence heirlooms were stripped from the wall, and gone were
the Damascus sword, the lance-head and black armour of Godfrey de
Bouillon. A definite note was lacking; the stage was in a state of
transition, and not yet set for the new drama.

Paul came in, hands extended in cordial welcome. "Good old Don!" he
cried. "On Friday I was within twenty miles of the part of the line
where I imagined you to be, but was unable to get across."

"How fortunate. You would have had a vain journey, Paul. I was in
Derbyshire on Friday. I would have met you this morning, but I knew you
would prefer to be _tete-a-tete_ with Yvonne."

"My dear fellow, Bassett ordained it otherwise. I found myself
surrounded by pressmen and picture people. Of course, he disclaimed
responsibility as usual, but I could read his guilt in his eyes. He
persists in 'booming' me as though