There's an old Shinto temple there that I have been wanting to
sketch for a long time."

"Atherton's luck!" commented the American complacently. "It
generally holds good. I couldn't leave Japan without seeing you,
and I must sail tonight."

"What's your hurry--Wall Street going to the dogs without you?"

"No. I've cut out from Wall Street. I've made all the money I
want, and I'm only concerned with spending it now. No, the fact is
I--er--I left home rather suddenly."

A soft chuckle came from the recumbent occupant of the third
chair, but Atherton ignored it and hurried on, twirling rapidly,
as he spoke, a single eyeglass attached to a thin black cord.

"Ever since Nina and I were married last year we've been going the
devil of a pace. We had to entertain every one who had entertained
us--and a few more folk besides. There was something doing all day
and every day until at last it seemed to me that I never saw my
wife except at the other end of a dining table with a crowd of
silly fools in between us. I reckoned I'd just about had enough of
it. Came on me just like a flash sitting in my office down town
one morning, so I buzzed home right away in the auto and told her
I was sick of the whole thing and that I wanted her to come away
with me and see what real life was like--out West or anywhere else
on earth away from that durned society crowd. I'll admit I lost my
temper and did some shouting. Nina couldn't see it from my point
of view.