make no
distinction between it and other vegetable poisons. I abstain from them
all. Water for serenity, wine for excitement. I, having boiling springs
of excitement within myself, am never at a loss for it, and have only
to seek serenity. However," (here he drew a cork), "a generous goblet
of this will make you feel like gods for half an hour at least. Shall we
drink to your conversion to Socialism?"

Sir Charles shook his head.

"Come, Mr. Donovan Brown, the great artist, is a Socialist, and why
should not you be one?"

"Donovan Brown!" exclaimed Sir Charles with interest. "Is it possible?
Do you know him personally?"

"Here are several letters from him. You may read them; the mere
autograph of such a man is interesting."

Sir Charles took the letters and read them earnestly, Erskine reading
over his shoulder.

"I most cordially agree with everything he says here," said Sir Charles.
"It is quite true, quite true."

"Of course you agree with us. Donovan Brown's eminence as an artist has
gained me one recruit, and yours as a baronet will gain me some more."

"But--"

"But what?" said Trefusis, deftly opening one of the albums at a
photograph of a loathsome room.

"You are against that, are you not? Donovan Brown is against it, and I
am against it. You may disagree with us in everything else, but there
you are at one with us. Is it not so?"

"But that may be the result of drunkenness, improvidence, or--"

"My father's income was fifty times as great as that of Donovan
Brown. Do you believe that Donovan Brown is fifty times as drunken and
improvident as my father was?"

"Certainly not. I do not deny that there is much in what you urge.
Still, you ask me to take a rather important step."

"Not a bit of it. I don't ask you to subscribe to, join, or in any way
pledge yourself to any society or conspiracy whatsoever. I only want
your name for private mention to cowards who think Socialism right, but
will not say so because they do not think it respectable. They will not
be ashamed of their convictions when they learn that a baronet shares
them. Socialism offers you something already, you see; a good use for
your hitherto useless title."

Sir Charles colored a little, conscious that the example of his favorite
painter had influenced him more than his own conviction or the arguments
of Trefusis.

"What do you think, Chester?" he said. "Will you join?"

"Erskine is already committed to the cause of liberty