Hence—­

At any rate the majority of us forthwith agreed, since plainly it meant an outing of the most lavish and pleasing nature.  At once four automobiles were pressed into service, three from his own garage and one specially engaged elsewhere.  There was some telephoning in re culinary supplies to a chef in charge of the famous restaurant below who was en rapport with our host, and soon some baskets of food were produced and subsequently the four cars made their appearance at the entryway below.  At dusk of a gray, cold, smoky day we were all bundled into these—­poets, playwrights, novelists, editors (he professed a great contempt for actors), and forthwith we were off, to do forty-five miles between five-thirty and seven p.m.

I often think of that ride, the atmosphere of it, and what it told of our host’s point of view.  He was always so grave, serene, watchful yet pleasant and decidedly agreeable, gay even, without seeming so to be.  There was something so amazingly warm and exotic about him and his, and yet at the same time something so cold and calculated, as if after all he were saying to himself, “I am the master of all this, am stage-managing it for my own pleasure.”  I felt that he looked upon us all not so much as intimates or friends as rather fine birds or specimens of one kind and another, well qualified to help him with art and social ideas if nothing more—­hence his interest in us.  Also, in his estimation no doubt, we reflected some slight color or light into his life, which he craved.  We had done things too.  Nevertheless, in his own estimation, he was the master, the Can Grande.  He could at will, “take us up or leave us out,” or so he thought.  We were mere toys, fine feathers, cap-and-bell artists.  It was nice to, “take us around,” have us with him.  Smothered in a great richly braided fur coat and fur cap, he looked as much the Grand Duke as one might wish.

But I liked him, truly.  And what a delicious evening and holiday, all told, he made of it for us.  By leaving a trail of frightened horses, men and women, and tearing through the gloom as though streets were his private race-track—­I myself as much frightened as any at the roaring speed of the cars and the possibilities of the road—­we arrived at seven, and by eight were seated to a course dinner of the most gratifying character.  There was no heat in the house as yet, but from somewhere great logs had been obtained and now blazed in the large fireplaces.  There was no electricity as yet—­a private plant was being installed—­but candles and lamps blazed in lovely groups, casting a soft glow over the great rooms.  One room lacked a door, but an immense rug took its place.  There were rugs, hangings and paintings in profusion, many of them as yet unhung.  Some of the most interesting importations of furniture and statuary were still in the cases in which they had arrived, with marks of ships and the names of foreign cities upon the