The Man in Possession — page 236: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 231 young fellow that Colonel Lawrence felt he was per- fectly sincere in what he said, and that he was con- ferring a pleasure, as well as pleasing himself. He had knocked about the world so much—had had so hard and strange a life that the most un- conventional and extraordinary proceedings would scarcely have afforded him surprise. It did not seem unnatural to him that a mere accidental acquaintance should develop into rapid interest or intimacy. He was quick at reading character, and something in the troubled look and feverish gaiety of the young man betrayed that all was not well with him. Yet his surroundings afforded no explanation, for his rooms were a revelation of luxury, comfort and convenience to his soldier guest, who had never had the time or the means to trouble about such matters himself. Tom offered him cigars, wine, mineral waters, but he declined anything to drink except coffee. ‘‘A soldier,” he said, ‘‘cannot be too temperate. He wants a clear brain and a healthy body. Then the word ‘emergency’ finds him braced up, ready and dependable. You young men ruin your con- stitutions with strong drinks and late hours and un- healthy food.” ‘I daresay we do,” said Rivers, who had just given the order for coffee to a little negro boy who served him as attendant valet and general faciotum. ‘‘The ‘gilded youth’ of England are not as a rule very wise or very virtuous. I read in a book, the other day, that the best possible education a young man could have is to be forced to live on fifteen shillings ECOMNCE OOO SS) (SO