Copyright, 1924, _Everybody’s Magazine_. MAY FAIR --B-- PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONTENTS PAGE PROLOGUE 9 I A ROMANCE IN OLD BRANDY 36 II THE ACE OF CADS 59 III WHERE THE PIGEONS GO TO DIE 95 IV THE BATTLE OF BERKELEY SQUARE 116 V THE PRINCE OF THE JEWS 133 VI THE THREE-CORNERED MOON 166 VII THE REVOLTING DOOM OF A GENTLEMAN WHO WOULD NOT DANCE WITH HIS WIFE 202 VIII THE GENTLEMAN FROM AMERICA 224 IX TO LAMOIR 251 X THE GHOUL OF GOLDERS GREEN 276 XI FAREWELL, THESE CHARMING PEOPLE 327 MAY FAIR [Illustration: MICHAEL ARLEN] MAY FAIR PROLOGUE I Once upon a time in London there was a young gentleman who had nothing better to do one afternoon, so what should he do but take a walk? Now he did not set out as one on pleasure bent, but with an air of determination that would have surprised his friends, saying between his teeth: “I have always heard that walking is good exercise. I will try a bit.” However, he had not walked far before circumstances compelled him to abate his ardour, for it was an afternoon in July and quite warm for the time of the year. Eastward our young gentleman strode, by Sloane Street, through Knightsbridge, across Hyde Park Corner, he strode even from Chelsea to Mayfair; for he was by way of being a writer and lived in Chelsea, whereas his people lived in Mayfair and understood nothing. Now while we are about it we may as well add that the young writer’s father was a baronet who had for some years been a perfect martyr to bankruptcy, and had called his son to him on this afternoon to impress upon him the fact that in future he, the young writer’s father, could not and would not be a victim to his, the young writer’s, extravagances. So much, then, for the young writer’s father; but with himself we must continue yet a while, although what this tale is really about is a hand and a flower.