that. You are hemmed in by conventional standards, and your possessions,
and all the things to which you attach such great importance."

"I don't attach so much importance that I steal them from other people,"
said Geoffrey.

"Philistine, Holland, philistine! Is not any one who has anything
stealing from some one or other? Of course. But I see you don't catch
the idea. Well, I dare say I would not either in your place--rather
think I would not. My sister is just the same way. Sweet girl, witty in
her own way, but philistine. She is so good as to be my companion,
apparently on equal terms, in many ways my superior, but it would be
impossible for me even to mention these ideas to her,--ideas which are
of the greatest interest to me."

"I wonder," said Geoffrey, "how much of all this rubbish you believe?"

McVay smiled with great sweetness. "I wonder myself, Holland. Still it
is undeniably amusing, and the main thing is that I enjoy life,--a hard
life too in many ways. Fate has dealt me some sad blows. Look at such a
coincidence as your turning up to-night, of all nights in the year."

"It was scarcely a coincidence. I came--"

"Oh, I know, I know. You came to see after your sister's things, but
still, if you look at it a little more carefully, you will see that it
_was_ a coincidence that you should be by nature a man of prompt action.
Nine men out of ten in your place--still, I'm not depressed. You cannot
say, Holland, that I behave or talk like a man who has ten years of hard
labour before him, can you? I dare say you have never been thrown with a