egrievanceredressed,orsomeunjustlawaltered--Ifetexactlywhatitwas.Finallyhesucceeded,andnothingcouldexceedhisdisappoi.Hehadabsolutelynothingtodo,almostdiedofennui,andbecameafirmedmisanthrope.Andbesides,mydearoldBasil,ifyoureallywanttoe,teachmerathertetwhathashappened,ortoseeitfromaproperartistitofview.WasitnotGautierwhousedtowriteaboutlasolatios?Irememberpigupalittlevellum-coveredbookinyourstudioonedayandgonthatdelightfulphrase.Well,IamnotlikethatyoungmanyoutoldmeoferedownatMarlowtogether,theyoungmanwhousedtosaythatyellowsatincouldsoleoneforallthemiseriesoflife.Ilovebeautifulthingsthatooudhandle.Oldbrocades,greenbronzes,lacquer-work,carvedivories,exquisitesurroundings,luxury,pomp--thereismuchtobegotfromallthese.Buttheartistictemperamentthattheycreate,oratanyratereveal,isstillmoretome.Tobeethespectatorofonesownlife,asHarrysays,istoescapethesufferingoflife.Iknowyouaresurprisedatmytalkingtoyoulikethis.YouhavenotrealizedhowIhavedeveloped.Iwasaschoolboywhenyouknewme.Iamamannow.Ihavenewpassiohoughts,newideas.Iamdifferent,butyoumustnotlikemeless.Iamged,butyoumustalwaysbemyfriend.Ofcourse,IamveryfondofHarry.ButIknowthatyouarebetterthanheis.Youarener--youaretoomuchafraidoflife--butyouarebetter.Andhoyweusedtobetogether!Dontleaveme,Basil,anddontquarrelwithme.IamwhatIam.Thereisnothingmoretobesaid."

    Thepainterfeltstrangelymoved.Theladwasinfinitelydeartohim,andhispersonalityhadbeenthegreatturningpointinhisart.Hecouldheideaofreproaghimanymore.Afterall,hisindifferencerobablymerely