“Go on. Every man has the right to work out his own destiny.”
Briarley filled his glass again. “The way he can get the most satisfaction is the way he generally chooses.”
“Satisfaction hurts the soul. There is nothing worse than satiety of the senses. I would never let myself become thoroughly satisfied.”
“You couldn’t ask for more than the success of that last book. The critics rendered you distinguished services,” said Briarley. “I understand the sale was enormous.”
“It has sold very well, but that only forces me to wrestle the harder to keep up the standard of that reputation. If I cared for a woman, my heart and soul could be loyal to her, but my time and vitality belong entirely to my art. ‘Women are born to live and love. They only really live after they love.’”
Andrews went on as though the other had endorsed his doctrine. “Love is an uplifting force to genius. A man would be doing a chivalrous act to win and hold the devotion of a girl in such an instance as I have cited.”
“It would be a risk.”
“Yes, but in my judgment the advantage is much greater than the risk.”
“It would be a responsibility.”
“I like responsibility; it braces a man to bear it.”