Hot circles expanded and contracted within his head. His face became pale and very grave in expression, as he walked out into Leicester Square upon Paradil"s supporting arm. There was a portentous dignity in his voice as he gave the address of his club to the cabman. As he shook hands with Paradil out of the window, tears came into his eyes, as he thought of the other"s drunken, wasted life. "If I can only help you in any way, old chap--" he tried to say, and then sank back in oblivion upon the cushions.
He was quite unconscious of anything during the short drive to St.
James"s Street, and when the experienced cabman pulled down the flag of the taximeter and opened the door, he sat there like a log.
The X Club was not fashionable, but it was reputable and of old establishment. It was fairly easy to get into--for the people whom the election committee wanted there--exceedingly difficult for the wrong set of people. Very many country gentlemen--county people, but of moderate means--belonged to it; the Major-General and the Admiral were not infrequent visitors; several Judges were on the members" list and looked in now and again.
As far as the Arts went, they were but poorly represented. There was no sparkle, no night-life about the place. The painters, actors and writers preferred a club that began to brighten up about eleven o"clock at night--just when the X became dreary. Not more than a dozen suppers were served at the staid building in St. James" on any night of the week.
Nevertheless, it was not an "old fogies"" club. There was a younger leaven working there. A good many younger men who also belonged to much more lively establishments found refreshment, quiet, and just the proper kind of atmosphere at the X.
For young men of good families who were starting life in London, there was a certain sense of being at home there. The building had, in the past, been the house of a celebrated duke and something of comely and decent order clung to every room now. And, more than anything, the servants suggested a country or London house of name.
Mullion, the grey-haired head-porter who sat in his gla.s.s box in the hall was a kind and a.s.siduous friend to every one. He was reported to be worth ten thousand pounds and his manners were perfection. He was one of the most celebrated servants in London. His deference was never tinged by servility. His interest in your affairs and wants was delicately intimate and quite genuine. Great people had tried to lure this good and shrewd person from the X Club, but without success. For seventeen years he had sat there in the hall, and, if fate was kind, he meant to sit there for seventeen years more.
All the servants of the X were like that. The youngest waiter in the smoking-rooms, library or dining room wore the face of a considerate friend, and Prince, the head bed-room valet was beloved by every one.
Members of other clubs talked about him and Mullion, the head-porter, with sighs of regret.
When Gilbert Lothian"s taxi-cab stopped at the doors of the X Club, he was expected. d.i.c.kson Ingworth, who was a member also, had been there for a few moments, expectant of his friend.
Old Mullion had gone for the night, and an under-porter sat in the quiet hall, but Prince, the valet, stood talking to Ingworth at the bottom of the stair-case.
"It will be perfectly all right," said Prince. "I haven"t done for Mr.
Lothian for all these years without understanding his ways. Drunk or sober, sir, Mr. Gilbert is always a gentleman. He"s the most pleasant country member in the club, sir! I understand his habits thoroughly, and he would bear me out in that at any time. I"m sure of that! His bowl of soup is being kept hot in the kitchens now. The small flask of cognac and the bottle of Worcester sauce are waiting on his dressing table. And there"s a half bottle of champagne, which he takes to put him right when I call him in the morning, already on the ice!"
"I know he appreciates it, Prince. He can"t say enough about how you look after him when he"s in London."
"I thoroughly believe it, sir," said the valet, "but it gives me great pleasure to hear it from you, who are such a friend of Mr. Gilbert"s. I may say, sir--if I may tell you without offence--that I"m not really on duty to-night. But when I see how Mr. Gilbert was when he was dressing for dinner, I made up my mind to stay. James begged me to go, but I would not. James is a good lad, but he"s no memory for detail. He"d have forgot the bi-carbonate of soda for Mr. Gilbert"s heart-burn, or something like that--I think that"s him, sir!"
Ingworth and the valet hurried over the hall as the inner doors swung open and Lothian entered. His shirt-front was crumpled. His face was white and set, his eyes fixed and sombre.
It was as though the master of the house had returned, when the poet entered. The under-porter hurried out of his box, Prince had the coat and opera hat whisked away in a moment. In a moment more, like some trick of the theatre and surrounded by satellites, Lothian was mounting the stairs towards his bedroom.
They put him in an arm-chair--these eager servitors! The electric lights in the comfortable bed-room were all switched on. The servant who loved him, not for his generosity, but for himself, vied with the young gentleman who loved him for somewhat different reasons.
Both of them had been dominated by this personality for so long, that there was no sorrow nor pity in their minds. The faithful man of the people who had served gentlemen so long that any other life would have been impossible to him, the boy of position, united in their efforts of resuscitation.
The Master"s mind must be called back! The Master"s body must be succoured and provided for.
The two were there to do it, and it seemed quite an ordinary and natural thing.
"You take off his boots, Prince, and I"ll manage his collar."
"Yes, sir."
"Managed it?"
"A little difficulty with the left boot, sir. The instep is a trifle swelled."
"Good heavens! I do hope he"s not going to have another attack of gout!"
"I hope not, sir. But you can"t ever tell. It comes very sudden. Like a thief in the night, as you may say."
"There! I"ve broken the stud, but that doesn"t matter. His neck"s free."
"And his boots are off. There"s some one knocking. It"s his soup. Would you mind putting his bed-room slippers on, sir? I don"t like the cold for his feet."
Prince hurried to the door, whispered a word or two to whoever stood outside, and returned with a tray.
"Another few minutes," said Prince, as he poured the brandy and measured the Worcester sauce into the silver-plated tureen; "another few minutes and he"ll be beautiful! Mr. Gilbert responds to anything wonderful quick. I"ve had him worse than this at half past twelve, and at quarter to one he"s been talking like an archdeacon. You persuade him, sir."
"Here"s your soup, Gilbert!"
"_It"s all nothing, there"s n.o.body, all nothing--dark--_," the voice was clogged and drowsy--if a blanket could speak, the voice might have been so.
The boy looked hopelessly at the valet.
Prince, an alert little man with a yellow vivacious countenance and heavy, black eye-brows, smiled superior. "When Mr. Gilbert really have copped the brewer--excuse the expression, sir--he generally says a few words without much meaning. Leave him to me if you please."
He wheeled a little table up to the arm-chair, and caught hold of Lothian"s shoulder, shaking him.
"What? What? My soup?"
"Yessir, your soup."
The man"s recuperative power was marvellous. His eyes were bleared, his face white, the wavy hair fell in disorder over his forehead. But he was awake and conscious.
"Thank you, Prince," he said, in his clear and sweet voice, "just what I wanted. Hullo, d.i.c.ker! You here?--I"ll just have my soup... ."
He grasped the large ladle-spoon with curious eagerness. It was as though he found salvation in the hot liquid--pungent as it was with cognac and burning spices.
He lapped it eagerly, coughing now and again, "gluck-gluck" and then a groan of satisfaction.
The other two watched him with quiet eagerness. There was nothing horrible to them in this. Neither the valet nor the boy understood that they were "lacqueys in the house of shame." As they saw their muddy magic beginning to succeed, satisfaction swelled within them.
Gilbert Lothian"s mind was coming back. They were blind to the hideous necessity of their summons, untouched by disgust at the physical processes involved.
"Will you require me any more, sir?"
"No, thank you, Prince."
"Very good, sir. I have made the morning arrangements."
"Good-night, Prince."
The bedroom door closed.
Lothian heaved himself out of his chair. He seemed fifteen years older.