LordJohnRoxtonandIturneddownVigoStreettogetherandthroughthedingyportalsofthefamousaristocraticrookery.Attheendofalongdrabpassagemynewacquaintancepushedopenadoorandturnedonanelectricswitch.Anumberoflampsshiningthroughtintedshadesbathedthewholegreatroombeforeusinaruddyradiance.Standinginthedoorwayandglancingroundme,Ihadageneralimpressionofextraordinarycomfortandelegancecombinedwithanatmosphereofmasculinevirility.Everywherethereweremingledtheluxuryofthewealthymanoftasteandthecarelessuntidinessofthebachelor.RichfursandstrangeiridescentmatsfromsomeOrientalbazaarwerescattereduponthefloor.Picturesandprintswhichevenmyunpractisedeyescouldrecognizeasbeingofgreatpriceandrarityhungthickuponthewalls.Sketchesofboxers,ofballet-girls,andofracehorsesalternatedwithasensuousFragonard,amartialGirardet,andadreamyTurner.ButamidthesevariedornamentstherewerescatteredthetrophieswhichbroughtbackstronglytomyrecollectionthefactthatLordJohnRoxtonwasoneofthegreatall-roundsportsmenandathletesofhisday.Adark-blueoarcrossedwithacherry-pinkoneabovehismantel-piecespokeoftheoldOxonianandLeanderman,whilethefoilsandboxing-glovesaboveandbelowthemwerethetoolsofamanwhohadwonsupremacywitheach.Likeadadoroundtheroomwasthejuttinglineofsplendidheavygame-heads,thebestoftheirsortfromeveryquarteroftheworld,withtherarewhiterhinocerosoftheLadoEnclavedroopingitssuperciliouslipabovethemall.
InthecenteroftherichredcarpetwasablackandgoldLouisQuinzetable,alovelyantique,nowsacrilegiouslydesecratedwithmarksofglassesandthescarsofcigar-stumps.Onitstoodasilvertrayofsmokablesandaburnishedspirit-stand,fromwhichandanadjacentsiphonmysilenthostproceededtochargetwohighglasses.Havingindicatedanarm-chairtomeandplacedmyrefreshmentnearit,hehandedmealong,smoothHavana.Then,seatinghimselfoppositetome,helookedatmelongandfixedlywithhisstrange,twinkling,recklesseyes—eyesofacoldlightblue,thecolorofaglacierlake.
Throughthethinhazeofmycigar-smokeInoted