"Give me an example," Stephen suggested. "What were you doing last night, for instance?"
John rang the bell for some tea, took his brother's hat and stick from his hand, and installed him in an easy chair.
"I went to a political meeting down in the East End," he replied. "One of the things I am trying to take a little more interest in up here is politics."
"No harm in that, anyway," Stephen admitted. "That all?"
"The meeting was over about eleven," John continued. "After that I came up here, changed my clothes, and went to a dance."
"At that time of night?"
John laughed.
"Why, nothing of that sort ever begins until eleven o'clock," he explained. "I stayed there for about an hour or so, and afterward I went round to a club I belong to, with the Prince of Seyre and some other men. They played bridge, and I watched."
"So that's one of your evenings, is it?" Stephen remarked. "No great harm in such doings—nor much good, that I can see. With the Prince of Seyre, eh?"
"I see him occasionally."