rimonialpurposes.Butthedowryhadprovedinadequate,andtheacquaintanceterminated.
“Howfunny!ButImeantochangeallthat.Bringyourfriendstoseeme,andIwillmakethembringtheirpeople.”
Helookedatherratherhopelessly.
“Well,whoaretheprincipalpeoplehere?Wholeadssociety?”
Thegovernoroftheprison,hesupposed,andtheofficerswhoassistedhim.
“Well,aretheymarried?”
“Yes.”
“Thereweare.Doyouknowthem?”
“Yes—inaway.”
“Isee,”sheexclaimedangrily.“Theylookdownonyou,dothey,poorboy?Wait!”Heassented.“Wait!I’llsoonstopthat.Now,whoelseisthere?”
“Themarchese,sometimes,andthecanonsoftheCollegiateChurch.”
“Married?”
“Thecanons—”hebeganwithtwinklingeyes.
“Oh,Iforgotyourhorridcelibacy.InEnglandtheywouldbethecentreofeverything.Butwhyshouldn’tIknowthem?WoulditmakeiteasierifIcalledallround?Isn’tthatyourforeignway?”
Hedidnotthinkitwouldmakeiteasier.
“ButImustknowsomeone!Whowerethemenyouweretalkingtothisafternoon?”
Low-classmen.Hecouldscarcelyrecollecttheirnames.
“But,Ginodear,ifthey’relowclass,whydidyoutalktothem?Don’tyoucareaboutyourposition?”
AllGinocaredaboutatpresentwasidlenessandpocket-money,andhiswayofexpressingitwastoexclaim,“Ouf-pouf!Howhotitisinhere.NoairIsweatallover.Iexpire.Imustcoolmyself,orIshallnevergettosleep.”Inhisfunnyabruptwayheranoutontotheloggia,wherehelayfulllengthontheparapet,andbegantosmokeandspitunderthesilenceofthestars.
LiliagatheredsomehowfromthisconversationthatContinentalsocietywasnotthego-as-you-pleasethingshehadexpected.IndeedshecouldnotseewhereContinentalsocietywas.Italyissuchadelightfulplacetoliveinifyouhappentobeaman.ThereonemayenjoythatexquisiteluxuryofSocialism—thattrueSocialismwhichisbasednotonequalityofincomeorcharacter,butontheequalityofmanners.Inthedemocracyofthecaffeorthestreetthegreatquestionofourlifehasbeensolved,andthebrotherhoodofmanisareality.Butisaccomplishedattheexpenseofthesisterhoodofwomen.Whyshouldyounotmakefriendswithyourneighbouratthetheatreorinthetrain,whenyouknowandhekn