"All right!" I responded carelessly, not wishing to offend him,--"Have
it your own way! But, upon my word, to me it is all like devil's magic!"
"What is?" he asked imperturbably.
"Everything!--the dancers,--the number of servants and pages--why, there
must have been two or three hundred of them,--those wonderful
'tableaux,'--the illuminations,--the supper,--everything I tell
you!--and the most astonishing part of it now is, that all these people
should have cleared out so soon!"
"Well, if you elect to call money devil's magic, you are right,"--said
Lucio.
"But surely in some cases, not even money could procure such perfection
of detail"----I began.
"Money can procure anything!"--he interrupted, a thrill of passion
vibrating in his rich voice,--"I told you that long ago. It is a hook
for the devil himself. Not that the devil could be supposed to care
about world's cash personally,--but he generally conceives a liking for
the company of the man who possesses it;--possibly he knows what that
man will do with it. I speak metaphorically of course,--but no metaphor
can exaggerate the power of money. Trust no man or woman's virtue till
you have tried to purchase it with a round sum in hard cash! Money, my
excellent Geoffrey, has done everything for _you_,--remember that!--you
have done nothing for yourself."
"That's not a very kind speech,"--I said, somewhat vexedly.
"No? And why? Because it's true? I notice most people complain of
'unkindness' when they are told a truth. It _is_ true, and I see no
unkindness in it. You've done nothing for yourself and you're not
expected to do anything--except," and he laughed--"except just now to
get to bed, and dream of the enchanting Sibyl!"
"I confess I am tired,"--I said, and an unconscious sigh escaped
me--"And you?"
His gaze rested broodingly on the outer landscape.
"I also am tired," he responded slowly--"But I never get away from my
fatigue, for I am tired of myself. And I always rest badly. Good-night!"
"Good-night!" I answered,--and then paused, looking at him. He returned
my look with interest.
"Well?" he asked expressively.