eechless in his saddle, like, but Lady James
she told Flamby what she thought about her."

Fawkes paused for breath and darted a second furtive glance at Paul.

"Proceed, Fawkes," directed the latter. "What was the end of the
episode?"

"Well, sir, Flamby answered her back, but it's not for me to repeat what
she said...."

"Since the story is evidently known to the whole countryside, you need
have no scruples about the matter, Fawkes. What did Lady James say to
Flamby?"

"She says, 'You're a low, vulgar creature!' And Flamby says, 'Perhaps I
am,' she says, 'but I ain't afraid to tell anybody where I spend my
week-ends!'"

"Ah," interrupted Paul, hurriedly, "you should not have repeated that,
Fawkes; but I am to blame. See to it that you are more discreet in
future."

"Yes, sir," said Fawkes, all downcast immediately. "Shall I tell you
what happened to the fox, sir?"

"Yes, you might tell me what happened to the fox."

"Flamby had him locked in the tool-shed, sir!"

He uttered the words as a final, crushing indictment, and ventured a
swift look at Paul in order to note its effect. Paul's face was
expressionless, however, as a result of the effort to retain his
composure.

"An awful character, Fawkes!" he said. "Good morning."

"Good morning, sir," said Fawkes, raising the peak of his cap with that
queer air of relief.

* * * * *

Paul set off along the lane, now smiling unrestrainedly, came to the
stile where the footpath through the big apple orchard began, crossed it
and stood for a moment watching a litter of tiny and alarmed pigs
scampering wildly after their mother. One lost his way and went racing
along distant aisles of apple trees in quest of a roundabout route of
his own. Paul, who symbolised everything, found food for reflection in
the incident.

He lingered in the fragrant orchard looking at a flock of sheep who
grazed there, and admiring the frolics of the lambs. In the beauty of
nature he always found cause for sorrow, because every living thing is
born to pain. Animals knew this law instinctively and received it as a
condition of their being, but men shut their eyes to so harsh a truth,
and cried out upon heaven when it came home to them. He thought of
Yvonne and his happiness frightened him. Gautama Buddha had left a
lovely bride, to question the solitude and the sorrows of humanity
respecting truth; he, Paul Mario, dared to believe that the light had
co