rumours, but found
none. I had heard nothing of him except that he had been
extraordinarily successful in his speculations, and that from his
hill-top he directed his firm's operations with uncommon skill. If
Lawson was sick or mad, nobody knew of it.

Dinner was a trying ceremony. Lawson, who used to be rather particular
in his dress, appeared in a kind of smoking suit with a flannel collar.
He spoke scarcely a word to me, but cursed the servants with a
brutality which left me aghast. A wretched footman in his nervousness
spilt some sauce over his sleeve. Lawson dashed the dish from his hand
and volleyed abuse with a sort of epileptic fury. Also he, who had
been the most abstemious of men, swallowed disgusting quantities of
champagne and old brandy.

He had given up smoking, and half an hour after we left the dining-room
he announced his intention of going to bed. I watched him as he
waddled upstairs with a feeling of angry bewilderment. Then I went to
the library and lit a pipe. I would leave first thing in the
morning--on that I was determined. But as I sat gazing at the moon of
alabaster and the soapstone birds my anger evaporated, and concern took
its place. I remembered what a fine fellow Lawson had been, what good
times we had had together. I remembered especially that evening when
we had found this valley and given rein to our fancies. What horrid
alchemy in the place had turned a gentleman into a brute? I thought of
drink and drugs and madness and insomnia, but I could fit none of them
into my conception of my friend. I did not consciously rescind my
resolve to depart, but I had a notion that I would not act on it.

The sleepy butler met me as I went to bed. "Mr. Lawson's room is at
the end of your corridor, sir," he said. "He don't sleep over well, so
you may hear him stirring in the night. At what hour would you like
breakfast, sir? Mr. Lawson mostly has his in bed."

My room opened from the great corridor, which ran the full length of
the front of the house. So far as I could make out, Lawson was three
rooms off, a vacant bedroom and his servant's room being between us. I
felt tired and cross, and tumbled into bed as fast as possible.
Usually I sleep well, but now I was soon conscious that my drowsiness
was wearing off and that I was in for a restless night. I got up and
laved my face, turned the pillows, thought of sheep coming over a hill
and clouds crossing the sky; but none of