' Do you know,' he said presently, ' I 've met
one or two fellows from time to time, who have
been to a city like yours ■ — perhaps it was the
same one. They won't talk much about it —
only broken hints, now and then ; but they 've
been there sure enough. They don't seem to

care about anything in particular — and every-

171



THE GOLDEN AGE

thing 's the same to them, rough or smooth ■,
and sooner or later they sUp off and disappear ;
and you never see them again. Gone back, I
suppose.'

' Of course,' said I. ' Don't see what they
ever came avi^ay for ; / vi^ould n't. To be told
you 've broken things when you have n't, and
stopped having tea with the servants in the
kitchen, and not allowed to have a dog to sleep
with you. But I've known people, too, who've
gone there.'

The artist stared, but without incivility.
