D'Arcy's chief buyers. This gentleman bowed stiffly to me.
He did not stay long; indeed, it was evident that the appearance of a
stranger somewhat disconcerted him.
After he was gone D'Arcy said, 'A good fellow! One of my most
important buyers. I should like you to know him, for you and I are
going to be friends. I hope.'
He seems very fond of pictures,' I said. A man of great taste, with a
real love of art and music.'
In a little while after this gentleman's departure in came De Castro,
who had driven up in a hansom. I certainly saw a flash of anger in
his eyes as he recognised me, but it vanished like lightning, and his
manner became cordiality itself. Late as it was (it was nearly
twelve), he pulled out his cigarette case, and evidently intended to
begin the evening. As soon as he was told that Mr. Symonds had been,
he began to talk about him in a disparaging manner. Evidently his
metier was, as I had surmised, that of a professional talker. Talk
was his stock-in-trade.
The night wore on, and De Castro in the intervals of his talk kept
pulling out his watch.
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