She now learnt that
he lived in Curzon Street, Mayfair, and filled, in private life, the
perfectly legitimate calling of a company promoter in partnership with a
Dutch Jew. His latest prospectus dwelt upon the profits to be derived
from an amalgamation of the leading tanning industries: by means of which
the price of leather could be enormously increased.
It was utterly illogical; but her interest in the principles of Social
Democracy was gone.
A very little while ago, Mr. Airlie, in his capacity of second cousin to
one of the ladies concerned, a charming girl but impulsive, had been
called upon to attend a family council of a painful nature. The
gentleman's name took Joan's breath away: it was the name of one of her
heroes, an eminent writer: one might almost say prophet. She had
hitherto read his books with grateful reverence. They pictured for her
the world made perfect; and explained to her just precisely how it was to
be accomplished. But, as far as his own particular corner of it was
concerned, he seemed to have made a sad mess of it. Human nature of
quite an old-fashioned pattern had crept in and spoilt all his own
theories.
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