第2部分(第5/6 页)

　on　the　platform　of　Euston；　looking　so　prosperous　and　solid。　It　was　not　only　the　flesh　that　he　had　put　on；　but　also　the　clothes；　that　made　him　hard　to　recognize。　In　the　old　days；　an　imitation　fur　coat　had　seemed　to　be　as　integral　a　part　of　him　as　were　his　ill…shorn　lantern　jaws。　But　now　his　costume　was　a　model　of　rich　and　somber　moderation；　drawing；　not　calling；　attention　to　itself。　He　looked　like　a　banker。　Any　one　could　have　been　proud　to　be　seen　off　by　him。

“Stand　back；　please！”　The　train　was　about　to　start；　and　I　waved　farewell　to　my　friend。　Le　Ros　did　not　stand　back。　He　stood　clasping　in　both　hands　the　hands　of　the　young　American。　“Stand　back；　sir；　please！”　He　obeyed；　but　quickly　darted　forward　again　to　whisper　some　final　word。　I　think　there　were　tears　in　her　eyes。　There　certainly　were　tears　in　his　when；　at　length；　having　watched　the　train　out　of　sight；　he　turned　round。　He　seemed；　nevertheless；　delighted　to　see　me。　He　asked　me　where　I　had　been　hiding　all　these　years；　and　simultaneously　repaid　me　the　half…crown　as　though　it　had　been　borrowed　yesterday。　He　linked　his　arm　in　mine；　and　walked　with　me　slowly　along　the　platform；　saying　with　what　pleasure　he　read　my　dramatic　criticisms　every　Saturday。

I　told　him；　in　return；　how　much　he　was　missed　on　the　stage。　“Ah；　yes；”　he　said；　“I　never　act　on　the　stage　nowadays。”　He　laid　some　emphasis　on　the　word　“stage”；　and　I　asked　him　where；　then；　he　did　act。　“On　the　platform；”　He　answered。　“You　mean；”　said　I；　“that　you　recite　at　concerts？”　He　smiled。　“This；”　he　whispered；　striking　his　stick　on　the　ground；　“is　the　platform　I　mean。”　Had　his　mysterious　prosperity　unhinged　him？　He　looked　quite　sane。　I　begged　him　to　be　more　explicit6。

“I　suppose；”　he　said　presently；　giving　me　a　light　for　the　cigar　which　he　had　offere