E-text prepared by Andrew Sly
A Novel
by
Author of
"A Mummer's Wife," "Confessions of a Young Man," Etc.
1889
Oaths, vociferations, and the slamming of cab-doors. The darkness wasdecorated by the pink of a silk skirt, the crimson of an opera-cloakvivid in the light of a carriage-lamp, with women's faces, necks,and hair. The women sprang gaily from hansoms and pushed through theswing-doors. It was Lubini's famous restaurant. Within the din wasdeafening.
"What cheer, 'Ria!
'Ria's on the job,"
roared thirty throats, all faultlessly clothed in the purest linen.They stood round a small bar, and two women and a boy endeavouredto execute their constant orders for brandies-and-sodas. They wereshoulder to shoulder, and had to hold their liquor almost in eachother's faces. A man whose hat had been broken addressed reproachesto a friend, who cursed him for interrupting his howling.
Issued from this saloon a long narrow gallery set with a single lineof tables, now all occupied by reproaches to a friend, who cursed himfor interrupting his howling.
Issued from this saloon a long narrow gallery set with a single lineof tables, now all occupied by supping courtesans and their men. Anodour of savouries, burnt cheese and vinegar met the nostrils, alsothe sharp smell of a patchouli-scented handkerchief drawn quicklyfrom a bodice; and a young man protested energetically against a wildduck which had been kept a few days over its time. Lubini, or Lubi,as he was called by his pals, signed to the waiter, and deciding thecase in favour of the young man, he pulled a handful of silver out ofhis pocket and offered to toss three lords, with whom he wasconversing, for drinks all round.
"Feeling awfully bad, dear boy; haven't been what I could call sobersince Monday. Would you mind holding my liquor for me? I must go andspeak to that chappie."
Since John Norton had come to live in London, his idea had been toput his theory of life, which he had defined in his aphorism, "Letthe world be my monastery," into active practice. He did nottherefore refuse to accompany Mike Fletcher to restaurants andmusic-halls, and was satisfied so long as he was allowed todisassociate and isolate himself from the various women who clusteredabout Mike. But this evening he viewed the courtesans with morethan the usual liberalism of mind, had even laughed loudly when onefainted and was upheld by anxious friends, the most zealous and themost intimate of whom bathed her white tragic face and listened inalarm to her incoherent murmurings of "Mike darling, oh, Mike!" Johnhad uttered no word of protest until dear old Laura, who had never,as Mike said, behaved badly to anybody, and had been loved byeverybody, sat down at their table, and the discussion turned on whowas likely to be Bessie's first sweetheart, Bessie being her youngestsister whom she was "bringing out." Then he rose from the table andwished Mike good-night; but Mike's liking for John was sincere, andpreferring his company to Laura's, he paid the bill and followed hisfriend out of the restaurant; and as they walked home together helistened to his grave and dignified admonitions, and though Johncould not touch Mike's conscience, he always moved his sympathies. Itis the shallow and the insince