"London is just as bad, rather worse, because the wickedness of it all is glossed over with a kind of boastfulness. Here you either make money or you don't. There, as far as I can see, your only chance is to spend money: not that I saw much of that except from the outside; still I did see all sorts and kinds of people, and you can make rough conclusions about them." "You don't mind my suggesting that you were hardly in a condition to make impartial observations?" "We don't seem able to use the same terms. You still think I was a fool not to stay in my nice little home, with my nice little job and my nice little income." "I don't judge you. I only say that if everybody were to do the same----" "I only wish more people would. There'd soon be an end of congestion. I only came round to-night because I couldn't stand the sight of my brother settling down to his nice little home and my mother fast freezing into a nice old lady--and then I find you terrified lest I should enter and pollute your nice little home. I tell you, what I have seen to-day has settled me. I came up here in a muddle about it all, half feeling that I had made an ass of myself, but I'm absolutely certain now----" "But a man must think of his wife and children, and, indeed, you are unjust. I have no fear of your disturbing my household. We should be only too glad to see you, only it happened, if you must know, that my wife was expecting Linda Brock. She uses her own name now." René gave a shout of laughter. "But I'd like to see her. How is she?" "Her mother died six months ago and left her a great deal of money, a fortune. We had no idea she was so rich. Linda wrote some plays, you know. She has bought the theater and presented it to the Players. I am one of the trustees. Thrigsby is very proud of the theater---- "It used to be music when I was young," said René, "and the orchestra was always in debt." "Art," said the Professor, "cannot be expected to pay for itself. We are running the theater to a certain extent in connection with the university----" He had assumed the voice in which he lectured. René cut him short: "I'd like to see Linda. Will you take me back with you." "I--er----" "You needn't thrust me on her. Just ask her if she'd like to see me, and come out and tell me: yes or no. After all, if it comes to that, we're still married. I believe, by the brutal laws of the country, I could insist on seeing her whether she liked it or not. You might tell her that I have come into some money also." "Really? I'm so glad." "Hurrah!" cried René, "you think I'll have to live up to it and settle down." "It would certainly be a splendid thing if----"