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'Well； I can't stop you。'
'You can； as a matter of fact … by not giving me any money。 They stopped my banking account； you know； in the summer。 It's been one of my chief difficulties。 I pawned my watch and cigarette case to ensure a happy Christmas； so I shall have to e to you tomorrow for my day's expenses。'
'I won't。 You know perfectly well I can't。'
'Won't you； Charles？ Well； I daresay I shall manage on my own somehow。 I've got rather clever at that lately … managing on my own。 I've had to。'
'Sebastian； what have you and Mr Samgrass been up to？'
'He told you at dinner … ruins and guides and mules； that's what Sammy's been up to。 We decided to go our own ways； that's all。 Poor Sammy's really behaved rather well so far。 I hoped he would keep it up； but he seems to have been very indiscreet about my happy Christmas。 I suppose he thought if he gave too good an account of me； he might lose his job as keeper。
'He makes quite a good thing out of it； you know。 I don't mean that he steals。 I should think he's fairly honest about money。 He certainly keeps an embarrassing little note…book in which he puts down the travellers' cheques he cashes and what he spends it on； for mummy and the lawyer to see。 But he wanted to go to all these places； and it's very convenient for him to have me to take him in fort； instead of going as dons usually do。 The only disadvantage was having to put up with my pany； and we soon solved that for him。
'We began very much on a Grand Tour； you know； with letters to all the chief people everywhere； and stayed with the Military Governor at Rhodes and the Ambassador at Constantinople。 That was what Sammy had signed on for in the first place。 Of course； he had his work cut out keeping his eye on me； but he warned all our hosts beforehand that I was not responsible。'
'Sebastian。'
'Not quite responsible … and as I had no money to spend I couldn't get away very much。 He even did the tipping for me； put the note into the man's hand and jotted the amount down then and there in his note…book。 My lucky time was at Constantinople。 I managed to make some money at cards one evening when Sammy wasn't looking。 Next day I gave him the slip and was having a very happy hour in the bar at the Tokatlian when who should e in but Anthony Blanche with a beard and a Jew boy。 Anthony lent me a tenner just before Sammy came panting in and recaptured me。 After that I didn't get a minute out of sight； the Embassy staff put us in the boat to Piraeus and watched us sail away。 But in Athens it was easy。 I simply walked out of the Legation one day after lunch； changed my money at Cook's； and asked about sailings to Alexandria just to fox Sammy； then went down to the port in a bus； found a sailor who spoke American； lay up with him till his ship sailed； and popped back to Constantinople； and that was that。
'Anthony and the Jew boy shared a very nice； tumbledown house near the bazaars。 I stayed there till it got too cold； then Anthony and I drifted south till we met Sammy by appointment in Syria three weeks ago。'
'Didn't Sammy mind？'
'Oh； I think he quite enjoyed himself in his own ghastly way only of course there was no more high life for him。 I think he was a bit anxious at first。 I didn't want him to get the whole Mediterranean Fleet out； so I cabled him from Constantinople that I was quite well and would he send money to the Ottoman Bank。 He came hopping over as soon as he got my cable。 Of course he was in a difficult position； because I'm of age and not certified yet； so he couldn't have me arrested。 He couldn't leave me to starve while he was living on my money； and he couldn't tell mummy without looking pretty silly。 I had him all ways； poor Sammy。 My original idea had been to leave him flat； but Anthony was very helpful about that； and said it was far better to arrange things amicably； and he did arrange things very amicably。 So here I am。'
'After Christmas。'
'Yes； I was determined to have a happy Christmas。'
'Did you？'
'I think so。 I don't remember it much； and that's always a good sign； isn't it？'
Next morning at breakfast Brideshead wore scarlet； Cordelia； very smart herself； with her chin held high over her white stock； wailed when Sebastian appeared in a tweed coat： 'Oh； Sebastian； you can't e out like that。 Do go and change。 You look so lovely in hunting clothes。'
'Locked away somewhere。 Gibbs couldn't find them。'
'That's a fib。 I helped get them out myself before you were called。'
'Half the things are missing。'
'It just encourages the Strickland…Venableses。 They're behaving rottenly。 They've even taken their grooms out of top hats。'
It was a quarter to eleven before the horses were brought round； but no one else appeared downstairs； it was as though they were in hiding； listening for Sebastian's retreating hooves before showing themselves。
Just as he was about to start； when the others were already mounted； Sebastian beckoned me into the hall。 On the table beside his hat； gloves； whip； and sandwiches； lay the flask he had put out to be filled。 He picked it up and shook it； it was empty。
'You see；' he said； 'I can't even be trusted that far。 It's they who are mad； not me。 Now you can't refuse me money。' I gave him a pound。
'More；' he said。
I gave him another and watched him mount and trot after his brother and sister。
Then； as though it were his cue on the stage； Mr Samgrass came to my elbow； put an arm in mine； and led me back to the fire。 He warmed his neat little hands and then turned to warm his seat。
'So Sebastian is in pursuit of the fox；' he said； 'and our little problem is shelved for an hour or two？'
I was not going to stand this from Mr Samgrass。
'I heard all about your Grand Tour； last night；' I said。
'Ah； I rather supposed you might have。' Mr Samgrass was undismayed； relieved； it seemed； to have someone else in the know。 'I did not harrow our hostess with all that。 After all； it turned out far better than one had any right to expect。 I did feel； however； that some explanation was due to her of Sebastian's Christmas festivities。 You may have observed last night that there were certain precautions。'
'I did。'
'You thought them excessive？ I am with you； particularly as they tend to promise the fort of our own little visit。 I have seen Lady Marchmain this morning。 You must not suppose I am just out of bed。 I have had a little talk upstairs with our hostess。 I think we may hope for some relaxation tonight。 Yesterday was not an evening that any of us would wish to have repeated。 I earned less gratitude than I deserved； I think； for my efforts to distract you。'
It was repugnant to me to talk about Sebastian to Mr Samgrass； but I was pelled to say： 'I'm not sure that tonight would be the best time to start the relaxation。'
'But surely？ Why not tonight； after a day in the field under Brideshead's inquisitorial eye？ Could one choose better？'
'Oh； I suppose it's none of my business really。'
'Nor mine strictly； now that he is safely home。 Lady Marchmain did me the honour of consulting me。 But it is less Sebastian's welfare than our own I have at heart at the moment。 I need my third glass of port； I need that hospitable tray in the library。 And yet you specifically advise against it tonight。 I wonder why。 Sebastian can e to no mischief today。 For one thing； he has no money。 I happen to know。 I saw to it。 I even have his watch and cigarette case upstairs。 He will be quite harmless。。。as long as no one is so wicked as to give him any。。。Ah； Lady Julia； good morning to you； good morning。 And how is the peke this hunting morning？'
'Oh； the peke's all right。 Listen。 I've got Rex Mottram ing here today。 We simply can't have another evening like last night。 Someone must speak to mummy。'
'Someone has。 I spoke。 I think it will be all right。'
'Thank God for that。 Are you painting today； Charles？'
It had been the custom that on every visit to Brideshead I painted a medallion on the walls of the garden…room。 The custom suited me well； for it gave me a good reason to detach myself from the rest of the party； when the house was full； the garden…room became a rival to the nursery； where from time to time people took refuge to plain about the others； thus without effort I kept in touch with the gossip of the place。 There were three finished medallions now； each rather pretty in its way； but unhappily each in a different way； for my tastes had changed and I had bee more dexterous in the eighteen months since the series was begun。 As a decorative scheme； they were a failure。 That morning was typical of the many mornings when I had found the garden…room a sanctuary。 There I went and was soon at work。 Julia came with me to see me started and we talked； inevitably； of Sebastian。
'Don't you； get bored with the subject？' she asked。 'Why must everyone make such a Thing about it？'
'Just because we're fond of him。'
'Well。 I'm fond of him too； in a way； I suppose； only I wish he'd behave like anybody else。 I've grown up with one family skeleton； you know … papa。 Not to be talked of before the servants； not to be talked of before us when we were children。 If mummy is going to start making a skeleton out of Sebastian； it's too much。 If he wants to be always tight； why doesn't he go to Kenya or somewhere where it doesn't matter？'
'Why does it matter less being unhappy in Kenya than anywhere else？'
'Don't pretend to be stupid； Charles。 You understand perfectly。'
'You mean there won't be so many embarrassing situations for you？ Well； all I was trying to say was that I'm afraid there may be an embarrassing situation tonight if Sebastian gets the chance。 He's in a bad mood。'
'Oh； a day's hunting will put that all right。'
It was touching to see the faith which everybody put in the value of a day's hunting。 Lady Marchmain； who looked in on me during the morning； mocked herself for it with that delicate irony for which she was famous。
'I've always detested hunting；' she said； 'because it seems to produce a particularly gross kind of caddishness in the nicest people。 I don't know what it is； but the moment they dress up and get on a horse they bee like a lot of Prussians。 And so boastful after it。 The evenings I've sat at dinner appalled at seeing the men and women I know； transformed into half…awake； self…opinionated； monomaniac louts！。。。and yet； you know … it must be something derived from centuries ago … my heart is quite light today to think of Sebastian out with them。 〃There's nothing wrong with him really；〃 I say； 〃he's gone hunting〃 … as though it were an answer to prayer。'
She asked me about my life in Paris。 I told her of my rooms with their view of the river and the towers of Notre Dame。 'I'm hoping Sebastian will e and stay with me when I go back。'
'It would have been lovely；' said Lady Marchmain； sighing as though for the unattainable。
'I hope he's ing to stay with me in London。'
'Charles； you know it isn't possible。 London's the worst place。 Even Mr Samgrass couldn't hold him there。 We have no secrets in this house。 He was lost； you know； all through Christmas。 Mr Samgrass only found him because he couldn't pay his bill in the place where he was； so they telephoned our house。 It's too horrible。 No； London is impossible； if he can't behave himself here； with us。。。We must keep him happy and healthy here for a bit； hunting； and then send him abroad again with Mr Samgrass。。。You see； I've been through all this before。'
The retort was there； unspoken； well…understood by both of us … 'You couldn't keep him； he ran away。 So will Sebastian。 Because they both hate you。'
A horn and the huntsman's cry sounded in the valley below。
'There they go now； drawing the home woods。 I hope he's having a good day。'
Thus with Julia and Lady Marchmain I reached deadlock； not because we failed to understand one another； but because we understood too well。 With Brideshead； who came home to luncheon and talked to me on the subject … for the subject was everywhere in the house like a fire deep in the hold of a ship； below the water…line； black and red in the darkness； ing to in acrid wisps of smoke that oozed under hat