Morally, he was profiting by the war.  Nay, more, in a deep sense he was enjoying it.  The immensity of it, the terror of it, the idiocy of it, the splendour of it, its unique grandeur as an illustration of human nature, thrilled the spectator in him.  He had little fear for the result.  The nations had measured themselves; the factors of the equation were known.  Britain conceivably might not win, but she could never lose.  And he did not accept the singular theory that unless she won this war another war would necessarily follow.  He had, in spite of all, a pretty good opinion of mankind, and would not exaggerate its capacity for lunatic madness.  The worst was over when Paris was definitely saved.  Suffering would sink and die like a fire.  Privations were paid for day by day in the cash of fortitude.  Taxes would always be met.  A whole generation, including himself, would rapidly vanish and the next would stand in its place.  And at worst, the path of evolution was unchangeably appointed.  A harsh, callous philosophy.  Perhaps.

What impressed him, and possibly intimidated him beyond anything else whatever, was the onset of the next generation.  He thought of Queenie, of Mr. Dialin, of Miss I-forget-your-name, of Lieutenant Molder.  How unconsciously sure of themselves and arrogant in their years!  How strong!  How unapprehensive! (And yet he had just been taking credit for his own freedom from apprehensiveness!) They were young—­and he was so no longer.  Pooh! (A brave “pooh"!) He was wiser than they.  He had acquired the supreme and subtly enjoyable faculty, which they had yet painfully to acquire, of nice, sure, discriminating, all-weighing judgment ...  Concepcion had divested herself of youth.  And Christine, since he knew her, had never had any youthfulness save the physical.  There were only these two.

Said a voice behind him: 

“You dining here to-night?”

“I am.”

“Shall we crack a bottle together?” (It was astonishing and deplorable how cliches survived in the best clubs!)

“By all means.”

The voice spoke lower: 

“That Bollinger’s all gone at last.”

“You were fearing the worst the last time I saw you,” said G.J.

“Auction afterwards?” the voice suggested.

“Afraid I can’t,” said G.J. after a moment’s hesitation.  “I shall have to leave early.”

Chapter 29

THE STREETS

After dinner G.J. walked a little eastwards from the club, and, entering Leicester Square from the south, crossed it, and then turned westwards again on the left side of the road leading to Piccadilly Circus.  It was about the time when Christine usually went from her flat to her Promenade.  Without admitting a definite resolve to see Christine that evening he had said to himself that he would rather like to see her, or that he wouldn’t mind seeing her, and