Indeed，anythinguntowardwasnowsedulouslykeptfromJames。Withanotherlookroundatthefurniture，asiftogaugehissister’sexactposition，SoameswentouttowardsPiccadilly。Theeveningwasdrawingin——atouchofchillintheOctoberhaze。Hewalkedquickly，withhiscloseandconcentratedair。Hemustgetthrough，forhewishedtodineinSoho。OnhearingfromthehallporterattheIseeumthatMr。Dartiehadnotbeeninto-day，helookedatthetrustyfellowanddecidedonlytoaskifMr。GeorgeForsytewasintheClub。Hewas。Soames，whoalwayslookedaskanceathiscousinGeorge，asoneinclinedtojestathisexpense，followedthepage-
boy，slightlyreassuredbythethoughtthatGeorgehadjustlosthisfather。Hemusthavecomeinforaboutthirtythousand，be-
sideswhathehadunderthatsettlementofRoger’s，whichhadavoideddeathduty。HefoundGeorgeinabow-window，staringoutacrossahalf-eatenplateofmuffins。Histall，bulky，black-
clothedfigureloomedalmostthreatening，thoughpreservingstillthesupernaturalneatnessoftheracingman。Withafaintgrinonhisfleshyface，hesaid：”Hallo，Soames！Haveamuffin?””No，thanks，”murmuredSoames；and，nursinghishat，withthedesiretosaysomethingsuitableandsympathetic，added：”How’syourmother?””Thanks，”saidGeorge；”so-so。Haven’tseenyouforages。Younevergoracing。How’stheCity?”
Soames，scentingtheapproachofajest，closedup，andanswered：”IwantedtoaskyouaboutDartie。Ihearhe’s……””Flitted，madeabolttoBuenosAireswiththefairLola。GoodforWinifredandthelittleDarties。He’satreat。”