e is anyone else in the whole world
that feels the way you feel or wants to act as you are doing?'

'I dare say you are right,' said Hyacinth feebly.

'Of course I'm right--perfectly right.'

Hyacinth tried to lift his glass of whisky-and-water to his lips, but
his hand trembled, and he was obliged to put it down. Captain Quinn
watched him wipe the spilt liquid off his hand, and then settle down in
his chair with his head bowed and his eyes half shut.

'Sit up, man,' he said. 'It's all right. You've done nothing to be
ashamed of, at all events. But look here, you ought not to come with us
at all.

It's no job for a man like you. You back out of it. Don't turn up
to-morrow morning. I'll explain to Finola if she's there, and if not
I'll write her a letter that will set you straight with her. I'm really
sorry for you, Conneally.'

Hyacinth looked up at him.

'I'm sorry I called you a blackguard,' he said. 'You're not any worse
than everyone else in the world.'

'Nonsense,' said Captain Quinn. 'Don't take it like that. From your
point of view you were quite right to call me a blackguard. And, mind
you, there are plenty of people in the world who aren't blackguards.
There's my brother, for instance. He's a bit of a prig--in fact, he's
as priggish as he well can be--but he's never done anything but run
straight. I don't suppose he could go crooked if he tried.'

Hyacinth got up.

'Good-night,' he said, 'and good-bye. I shan't go with you.'

'Wait a minute,' said Captain Quinn. 'I think I've done you one good
turn to-night in stopping you going to South Africa. Now I'll do you
another, and one at the same time to that brother of mine. I left him
in a hurry. I told you that, but I don't think I mentioned that I was in
his employment. He runs a woollen factory down in Mayo. I owned a
share in the business once, but that went long ago, and the whole thing
belongs to James now. I was a sort of clerk and general agent. I wasn't
really the least use, for I never did any work. James was for ever
complaining, but I'm bound to say he stuck to me. I'll give you a letter
to him, and I dare say you may get the job that I've chucked. It's not
much of a thing, but it may suit you for a while. Sit down till I write
my letter.'

Hyacinth obeyed. Since his anger evaporated a sort of numbness had crept
over his mind. He scarcely understood what was said to him. He had a
vague feeling of gratitude towards Captain Quinn, and at the