.

    -- I see, Cranly said.

    co clean teethen he said carelessly:

    -- tell me, for example, would you deflower a virgin?

    -- Excuse me, Stepely, is t not tion of most young gentlemen?

    --  t of view? Cranly asked.

    pening, excited Steps fumes seemed to brood.

    -- Look  I  do. I ell you  do. I  serve t in self my ry to express myself in some mode of life or art as freely as I can and as wo use - silence, exile, and cunning.

    Cranly seized eered o lead oepion.

    -- Cunning indeed!  you? You poor poet, you!

    -- And you made me confess to you, Stepouco you so many ot?

    -- Yes, my cill gaily.

    -- You made me confess t I  I ell you also  fear. I do not fear to be alone or to be spurned for anoto leave  afraid to make a mistake, even a great mistake, a lifelong mistake, and perernity too.

    Cranly, now grave again, slowed his pace and said:

    -- Alone, quite alone. You . And you kno  only to be separate from all ot to  even one friend.

    -- I ake tephen.

    -- And not to  and truest friend a man ever had.

    o ruck some deep cure. o be? Stepcs in silence. A cold sadness here. he had spoken of himself, of his own loneliness which he feared.

    -- Of  answer.