Faithful to his duties, the servant waited to ask the customary question,
'Do you dine at home to-day, sir?'
After a moment's hesitation he said, 'No: I shall dine at the club.'
The most easily deteriorated of all the moral qualities is
the quality called 'conscience.' In one state of a man's mind,
his conscience is the severest judge that can pass sentence on him.
In another state, he and his conscience are on the best possible
terms with each other in the comfortable capacity of accomplices.
When Doctor Wybrow left his house for the second time, he did
not even attempt to conceal from himself that his sole object,
in dining at the club, was to hear what the world said of the
Countess Narona.
CHAPTER III
There was a time when a man in search of the pleasures of gossip
sought the society of ladies. The man knows better now.
He goes to the smoking-room of his club.
Doctor Wybrow lit his cigar, and looked round him at his brethren
in social conclave assembled. The room was well filled;
but the flow of talk was still languid. The Doctor innocently
applied the stimulant that was wanted.
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