Whatever the Elder might have had for that was spoiled by the guard, who hurried toward them, locking the compartment doors. Turning to the Younger the Elder took his arm.
“Well,” he said, “it seems to me that we are forsaken!”
He was admirable. He had never been so admirable. The Younger, however, gently disengaged himself.
“Pardon me. I am sorry to seem rude, but—I am going, too.”
And he made for the door before the guard should lock it.
“Par-ten-za!” shouted that functionary, with energy.
The two young people stood together at the window, looking down at the Elder. For an instant the Younger’s heart smote him. But something from the eyes nearer his own hardened him again to the cruelty of youth.
“O, by the way,” he called, as the train jolted into motion: “Don’t forget! You owe me, you know, a thousand francs!”
THE EMERALD OF TAMERLANE[1]
[1] Written in collaboration with John Taylor.