riages sped like mechanical toys guided by
mannikins. The sound of the sea waxed. And then he saw the twinkle of
lights, and then fire ran slowly along the promenade: until the whole
map of it was drawn out in flame; and he perceived that though he had
walked a very long way, the high rampart of houses continued still
interminably beyond him. He turned. He was tired. His face caught the
full strength of the rising wind. Foam gleamed on the rising tide. In
the profound violet sky to the east stars shone and were wiped out, in
fields; but to the west, silver tarried. He had not seen Preston
Street, and it was too dark now to decipher the signs. He was glad. He
went on and on, with rapidly increasing fatigue, disgust, impatience.
The thronging multitudes had almost disappeared; but many illuminated
vehicles were flitting to and fro, and the shops were brilliant. He was
so exhausted by the pavements that he could scarcely walk. And Brighton
became for him the most sorrowful city on earth.

"What am I doing here?" he asked himself savagely. However, by dint of
sticking doggedly to it he did in the end reach the hotel.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

FIVE.

After dinner, and wine, both of which, by their surprising and indeed
unique excellence, fostered the prestige of Stifford as an authority
upon hotels, Edwin was conscious of new strength and cheerfulness. He
left the crowded and rose-lit dining-room early, because he was not at
ease amid its ceremoniousness of attire and of service, and went into
the turkey-carpeted hall, whose porter suddenly sprang into propitiatory
life on seeing him. He produced a cigarette, and with passionate haste
the porter produced a match, and by his method of holding the flame to
the cigarette, deferential and yet firm, proved that his young existence
had not been wasted in idleness. When the cigarette was alight, the
porter surveyed his work with a pleased smile.

"Another rare storm blowing up, sir," said the porter.

"Yes," said Edwin. "It's been giving the window of my room a fine
shake."

The porter glanced at the clock. "High tide in half an hour, sir."

"I think I'll go out and have a look at it," said Edwin.

"Yes, sir."

"By the way," Edwin added, "I suppose you haven't got a map of
Brighton?"

"Certainly, sir," said the porter, and with a rebirth of passion began
to search among the pile of time-tables and other