a gentleman of my acquaintance came to me the other day for sympathy.... but first i must describe him:—
he is a man of careful, not neat, dress: i would call it sober rather than neat. he is always clean-shaven and his scanty hair is kept short-cut. he is occupied in letters; he is, to put it bluntly, a litteratoor; none the less he is possessed of scholarship and is a minor authority upon english pottery.
he is a very good writer of verse; he is not exactly a poet, but still, his verse is remarkable. two of his pieces have been publicly praised by political peers and at least half a dozen of them have been praised in private by the ladies of that world. he is a man fifty-four years of age, and, if i may say so without betraying him, a little disappointed.
[pg 63]
he came to me, i say, for sympathy. i was sitting in my study watching the pouring rain falling upon the already soaked and drenched and drowned clay lands of my county. the leafless trees (which are in our part of a low but thick sort) were standing against a dead grey sky with a sort of ghost of movement in it, when he came in, opened his umbrella carefully so that it might not drip, and left it in the stone-floored passage—which is, to be accurate, six hundred years old—kicked off his galoshes and begged my hospitality; also (let me say it for the third time) my sympathy.
he said he had suffered greatly and that he desired to tell me the whole tale. i was very willing, and his tale was this:
it seems that my friend (according to his account) found himself recently in a country of a very delightful character.
this country lay up and heavenly upon a sort of table-land. one went up a road which led continually higher and higher through the ravines of the mountains, until, passing through[pg 64] a natural gate of rock, one saw before one a wide plain bounded upon the further side by the highest crests of the range. through this upland plain ran a broad and noble river whose reaches he could see in glimpses for miles, and upon the further bank of it in a direction opposite that which the gate of rock regarded, was a very delightful city.
the walls of this city were old in their texture, venerable and majestic in their lines. within their circumference could be discerned sacred buildings of a similar antiquity, but also modern and convenient houses of a kind which my friend had not come across before, but which were evidently suited to the genial, sunlit climate, as also to the habits of leisured men. their roofs were flat, covered in places by awnings, in other places by tiled verandas, and these roofs were often disposed in the form of little gardens.
trees were numerous in the city and showed their tops above the lower buildings, while the lines of their foliage indicated the direction of the streets.
[pg 65]
my friend was passing down the road which led to this plain—and as it descended it took on an ampler and more majestic character—when he came upon a traveller who appeared to be walking in the direction of the town.
this traveller asked him courteously in the english tongue whether he were bound for the city. my friend was constrained to reply that he could not pretend to any definite plan, but certainly the prospect all round him was so pleasant and the aspect of the town so inviting, that he would rather visit the capital of this delightful land at once than linger in its outskirts.
"come with me, then," said the traveller, "and if i may make so bold upon so short an acquaintance, accept my hospitality. i have a good house upon the wall of the town and my rank among the citizens of it is that of a merchant;—i am glad to say a prosperous one."
he spoke without affectation and with so much kindness, that my friend was ravished to discover such a companion, and they proceeded[pg 66] in leisurely company over the few miles that separated them from their goal.
the road was now paved in every part with small square slabs, quite smooth and apparently constructed of some sort of marble. upon either side there ran canalised in the shining stone a little stream of perfectly clear water. from time to time they would pass a lovely shrine or statue which the country people had adorned with garlands. as they approached the city they discovered a noble bridge in the manner, my friend believed, of the italian renaissance, with strong elliptical arches and built, like all the rest of the way, of marble, while the balustrade upon either side of it was so disposed in short symmetrical columns as to be particularly grateful to the eye. over this bridge there went to and fro a great concourse of people, all smiling, eager, happy and busy, largely acquainted, apparently, each with the others, nodding, exchanging news, and in a word forming a most blessed company.
as they entered the city my friend's [pg 67]companion, who had talked of many things upon their way and had seemed to unite the most perfect courtesy and modesty with the widest knowledge, asked him whether there was any food or drink to which he was particularly attached.
"for," said he, "i make a point whenever i entertain a guest—and that," he put in with a laugh, "is, i am glad to say, a thing that happens frequently—i make a point, i say, of asking him what he really prefers. it makes such a difference!"
my friend began his reply with those conventional phrases to which we are all accustomed, "that he would be only too happy to take whatever was set before him," "that the prospect of his hospitality was a sufficient guarantee of his satisfaction," and so forth: but his host would take no denial.
"no, no!" said he. "do please say just what you prefer! it is so easy to arrange—if you only knew!... come, i know the place better than you," he added, smiling again; "you[pg 68] have no conception of its resources. pray tell me quite simply before we leave this street"—for they were now in a street of sumptuous and well-appointed shops—"exactly what shall be commissioned."
moved by i know not what freedom of expression, and expansive in a degree which he had never yet known, my friend smiled back and said: "well, to tell you the truth, some such meal as this would appeal to me: first two dozen green-bearded oysters of the arcachon kind, opened upon the deep shell with all their juices preserved, and each exquisitely cleaned. these set upon pounded ice and served in that sort of dish which is contrived for each oyster to repose in its own little recess with a sort of side arrangement for the reception of the empty shells."
his host nodded gravely, as one who takes in all that is said to him.
"next," said my friend, in an enthusiastic manner, "real and good russian caviar, cold but not frozen, and so touched with lemon—only [pg 69]just so touched—as to be perfect. with this i think a little of the wine called barsac should be drunk, and that cooled to about thirty-eight degrees—(fahrenheit). after this a true bouillon, and by a true bouillon," said my friend with earnestness, "i mean a bouillon that has long simmered in the pot and has been properly skimmed, and has been seasoned not only with the customary herbs but also with a suspicion of carrot and of onion, and a mere breath of tarragon."
"right!" said his host. "right!" nodding with real appreciation.
"and next," said my friend, halting in the street to continue his list, "i think there should be eggs."
"right," said his host once more approvingly; "and shall we say——"
"no," interrupted my friend eagerly, "let me speak. eggs sur-le-plat, frizzled to the exact degree."
"just what i was about to suggest," answered his delighted entertainer, "and black[pg 70] pepper, i hope, ground large upon them in fresh granules from a proper wooden mill."
"yes! yes!" said my friend, now lyric, "and with sea salt in large crystals."
on saying which both of them fell into a sort of ecstasy which my friend broke by adding:
"something quite light to follow ... preferably a sugar-cured ham braised in white wine. then, i think, spinach, not with the ham but after it; and that spinach cooked perfectly dry. we will conclude with some of the cheese called brie. and for wine during all these latter courses we will drink the wine of chinon: chinon grillé. what they call," he added slyly, "the fausse maigre; for it is a wine thin at sight but full in the drinking of it."
"good! excellent!" said his host, clapping his hands together once with a gesture of finality. "and then after the lot you shall have coffee."
"yes, coffee roasted during the meal and ground immediately before its concoction. and for liqueur...."
[pg 71]
my friend was suddenly taken with a little doubt. "i dare not ask," said he, "for the liqueur called aquebus? once only did i taste it. a monk gave it me on christmas eve four years ago and i think it is not known!"
"oh, ask for it by all means!" said his host. "why, we know it and love it in this place as though it were a member of the family!"
my friend could hardly believe his ears on hearing such things, and said nothing of cigars. but to his astonishment his host, putting his left hand on my friend's shoulder, looked him full in the face and said:
"and now shall i tell you about cigars?"
"i confess they were in my mind," said my friend.
"why then," said his host with an expression of profound happiness, "there is a cigar in this town which is full of flavour, black in colour, which does not bite the tongue, and which none the less satisfies whatever tobacco does[pg 72] satisfy in man. when you smoke it you really dream."
"why," said my friend humbly, "very well then, let us mention these cigars as the completion of our little feast."
"little feast, indeed!" said his host, "why it is but a most humble meal. anyhow, i am glad to have had from you a proper schedule of your pleasures of the table. in time to come when we know each other better, we will arrange other large and really satisfactory meals; but this will do very well for our initiatory lunch as it were." and he laughed merrily.
"but have i not given you great trouble?" said my friend.
"how little you will easily perceive," said his companion, "for in this town we have but to order and all is at once promptly and intelligently done." with that he turned into a small office where a commissary at once took down his order. "and now," said he emerging, "let us be home."
they went together down the turnings of a[pg 73] couple of broad streets lined with great private palaces and public temples until they came to a garden which had no boundaries to it but which was open, and apparently the property of the city. but the people who wandered here were at once so few, so discreet and so courteous, my friend could not discover whether they were (as their salutes seemed to indicate) the dependents of his host, or merely acquaintances who recognized him upon their way.
this garden, as they proceeded, became more private and more domestic; it led by narrowing paths through high, diversified trees, until, beyond the screen of a great beech hedge, he saw the house ... and it was all that a house should be!
its clear, well set stone walls were in such perfect harmony with the climate and with the sky, its roof garden from which a child was greeting them upon their approach, so unexpected and so suitable, its arched open gallery was of so august a sort, and yet the domestic ornaments of its colonnade so familiar, that[pg 74] nothing could be conceived more appropriate for the residence of man.
the mere passage into this home out of the warm morning daylight into the inner domestic cool, was a benediction, and in the courtyard which they thus entered a lazy fountain leaped and babbled to itself in a manner that filled the heart with ease.
"i do not know," said his host in a gentle whisper as they crossed the courtyard, "whether it is your custom to bathe before the morning meal or in the middle of the afternoon?"
"why, sir," said my friend, "if i may tell the whole truth, i have no custom in the matter; but perhaps the middle of the afternoon would suit me best."
"by all means," said his host in a satisfied tone. "and i think you have chosen wisely, for the meal you have ordered will very shortly be prepared. but, for your refreshment at least, one of my friends shall put you in order, cool your hands and forehead, see to your face[pg 75] and hair, put comfortable sandals upon your feet and give you a change of raiment."
all of this was done. my friend's host did well to call the servant who attended upon his guest a "friend," for there was in this man's manner no trace of servility or of dependence, and yet an eager willingness for service coupled with a perfect reticence which was admirable to behold and feel.
when my friend had been thus refreshed he was conducted to a most exceptional little room. four pictures were set in the walls of it, mosaics, they seemed—but he did not examine their medium closely. the room itself in its perfect lightness and harmony, with its view out through a large round arch upon the countryside beyond the walls (the old turrets of which made a framework for the view), exactly prepared him for the meal that was prepared.
while the oysters (delightful things!) were entering upon their tray and were being put upon the table, the host, taking my friend aside with an exquisite gesture of courteous[pg 76] privacy, led him through the window-arch on to a balcony without, and said, as they gazed upon the wall and the plain and the mountains beyond (and what a sight they were!):
"there is one thing, my dear sir, that i should like to say to you before you eat ... it is rather a delicate matter.... you will not mind my being perfectly frank?"
"speak on, speak on," said my friend, who by this time would have confided any interests whatsoever into the hands of such a host.
"well," said that host, continuing a little carefully, "it is this: as you can see we are very careful in this city to make men as happy as may be. we are happy ourselves, and we love to confer happiness upon others, strangers and travellers who honour us with their presence. but we find—i am very sorry to say we find ... that is, we find from time to time that their complete happiness, no matter with what we may provide them, is dashed by certain forms of anxiety, the chief of which is anxiety with regard to their future receipts of money."
[pg 77]
my friend started.
"nay," said his host hastily, "do not misunderstand me. i do not mean that preoccupations of business are alone so alarming. what i mean is that sometimes, yes, and i may say often (horrible as it seems to us!), our guests are in an active preoccupation about the petty business of finance. some few have debts, it seems, in the wretched society from which they come, and of which, frankly, i know nothing. others, though not indebted, feel insecure about the future. others though wealthy are oppressed by their responsibilities. now," he continued firmly, "i must tell you once and for all that we have a custom here upon which we take no denial: no denial whatsoever. every man who enters this city, who honours us by entering this city, is made free of that sort of nonsense, thank god!" and as he said this, my friend's host breathed a great sigh of relief. "it would be intolerable to us to think," he continued, "that our welcome and dear companions were suffering from such a tawdry thing[pg 78] as money-worry in our presence. so the matter is plainly this: whether you like it or whether you do not, the sum of £10,000 is already set down to your credit in the public bank of the city; whether you use it or not is your business; if you do not it is our custom to melt down an equivalent sum of gold and to cast it into the depths of the river, for we have of this metal an unfailing supply, and i confess we do not find it easy to understand the exaggerated value which other men place upon it."
"i do not know that i shall have occasion to use so magnificent a custom," said my friend with an extraordinary relief in his heart, "but i certainly thank you very kindly for its intention, and i shall not hesitate to use any sum that may be necessary for my continuing the great happiness which this city appears to afford."
"you have spoken well," said his host, seizing both his hands, "and your frankness compels me to another confession: we have at our disposal a means of discovering exactly how any one of our guests may stand: the responsibilities[pg 79] of the rich, the indebtedness of the embarrassed, the anxiety of those whose future may be precarious. may i tell you without discourtesy, that your own case is known to me and to two trustees, who are public officials—absolutely reliable—and whom, for that matter, you will not meet."
my friend must have looked incredulous, but his host continued firmly: "it is so, we have settled your whole matter, i am glad to say, on terms that settle all your liabilities and leave a further £50,000 to your credit in the public bank. but the size of the sum is in this city really of no importance. you may demand whatever you will, and enjoy, i hope, a complete security during your habitation here. and that habitation, both the town council and the national government, beg you, through me, to extend to the whole of your life."
* * * * *
"imagine," said my friend, "how i felt.... the oysters were now upon the table, and[pg 80] before them, ready for consumption, the caviar. the barsac in its original bottle, cooled (need i say!) to exactly thirty-eight degrees, stood ready...."
at this point he stopped and gazed into the fire.
"but, my dear fellow," said i, "if you are coming to me for sympathy and simply succeed in making me hungry and cross...."
"no," said my friend with a sob, "you don't understand!" and he continued to gaze at the fire.
"well, go on," said i angrily.
"there isn't any on," he said; "i woke!"
we both looked into the fire together for perhaps three minutes before i spoke and said:
"will you have some wine?"
"no thank you," he answered sadly, "not that wine." then he got up uneasily and moved for his umbrella and his galoshes, and the passage and the door. i thought he muttered, "you might have helped me."
[pg 81]
"how could i help you?" i said savagely.
"well," he sighed, "i thought you could ... it was a bitter disappointment. good night!" and he went out again into the rain and over the clay.
