Is there another living could have framed such a speech?—another who could have carried such a situation in such a manner? I challenge you to produce him.
Repton turned on his heel. Of words he was bereft again; action was impossible.
—————
IV.
AT FIG TREE COURT.
I.
Captain O’Hagan entered my rooms whilst I was at breakfast—hatless, as is his custom; debonair, as he cannot fail to be. His presence has the curious effect of changing relative values. His individuality absorbs: one can no longer describe the scene: the scene is Captain O’Hagan. As he lounges upon the blue Chesterfield, with that odd pose of the hip which suggests that a rapier swings there, I often think that had he flourished contemporaneously with Velasquez he had surely inspired the artist to a supreme achievement. “Portrait of the Chevalier Bernard O’Hagan,” must have been counted the Spanish master’s chef d’œuvre.
“My dear Raymond, are you acquainted with a person of the name of Repton?”
“Sidney Repton, company promoter, newspaper proprietor, and so forth?”
“That will be the fellow! He gave me the slip last night! My position, as a guest, precluded the possibility of obtaining his address from another guest; and the fellow left without his hat. But his address was not in his hat. Where does he live?”
“39A, Fig Tree Court.”
“Will you come around with me?”