America. Subsequent events did not convict him of being a
mere egotist, swayed only by the current of base success. He did not
despise prosperity, but he cared yet more to find out truths about
things and men. This is not the story of a fortune-hunter; not, at all
events, of a hunter of such fortunes as are made and lost nowadays.
But, when one half of a man detects unworthy motives in the other
half, it is embarrassing. He acts most wisely, perhaps, who drops
discussion, and lets the balance of good and bad, at the given moment,
decide. Our compound life makes many compromises, whereby our
progress, whether heavenward or hellward, is made slow--and sure!

Here, or hereabouts, Balder lost his way. When thinking hard, he was
beside himself; he strode, and tossed his beard, and shouldered
inoffensive people aside, and drew his eyebrows together, or smiled.
Then, by and by, he would awake to realities, and find himself he knew
not where.

This time, it was in an unsavory back-street; some dirty children were
playing in the gutters, and a tall, rather flashily dressed man was
walking along some distance ahead, carrying something in one hand.
Helwyse at first mended his pace to overtake the fellow, and ask the
way to the hotel. But he presently changed his purpose, his attention
being drawn to the oddity of the other's behavior.

The man was evidently one of those who live much alone, and so
contract unconscious habits, against which society offers the only
safeguard. He was absorbed in some imaginary dialogue; and so
imperfectly could his fleshly veil conceal his mental processes, that
he gesticulated everything that passed through his mind. These
gestures, though perfectly apparent to a steady observer, were so far
kept within bounds as not to get more than momentary notice from the
passers-by, who, indeed, found metal more attractive to their gaze in
Helwyse.

Now did the man draw his head back and spread out his arms, as in
surprise and repudiation; now his shoulders rose high, in deprecation
or disclaimer. Now his forefinger cunningly sought the side of his
nose; now his fist shook in an imaginary face. At times he would
stretch out a pleading arm and neck; the next moment he was an
inflexible tyrant, spurning a suppliant. Again he would break into a
soundless chuckle; then, raising his hand to his forehead, seem
overwhelmed with despair and anguish. Occasionally he would walk some
distance quite passively, only gl