Flames | Page 6

see whether you can get some of
my feelings, and I some of yours."
"That's it. But you could never get mine. I know you too well, Val.
You're my rock of defence. You've kept me straight because you're so
straight yourself; and, with that face, you'll never alter. If anything
should happen, it will be that you'll drag me up to where you are. I
shan't drag you down to my level, you old saint!"
And he laid his hand affectionately on his friend's shoulder.
Valentine smiled.
"Your level is not low," he said.
"No, perhaps; but, by Jove, it could be, though. If you hadn't been
chucked into the world, I often think the devil must have had me
altogether. You keep him off. How he must hate you, Val. Hulloh!
What's that?"

"What?"
"Who's that laughing outside? Has Wade got a friend in to-night?"
"Not that I know of. I didn't hear anything."
Valentine touched the electric bell, and his man appeared.
"Any one in with you to-night, Wade?" he asked.
The man looked surprised.
"No, sir; certainly not, sir."
"Oh! Don't sit up; we may be late to-night. And we don't want anything
more, except--yes, bring another couple of sodas."
"Yes, sir."
He brought them and vanished. A moment later they heard the front
door of the flat close. The butler was married and slept out of the house.
Valentine had no servant sleeping in the flat. He preferred to be alone
at night.
CHAPTER III
EPISODE OF THE FIRST SITTING
"Now, then," said Valentine, "let us be absurd and try this sitting. Shall
we clear this little table?"
"Yes. It's just the right size. It might do for three people, but certainly
not for more."
"There! Now, then."
And, as the clock struck twelve, Valentine turned off the electric light,
and they sat down with their hands upon the table. The room was only
very dimly illuminated by the fire on the hearth, where Rip slept on,

indifferent to their proceedings.
"I suppose nothing could go wrong," Julian said, after a moment of
silence.
"Wrong!"
"Yes. I don't know exactly what Marr meant, but he said that if
unsuitable people sit together any amount of harm can result from it."
"What sort of harm?"
"I don't know."
"H'm! I expect that is all nonsense, like the rest of his remarks. Anyhow,
Julian, no two people could ever hit it off better than you and I do. Wait
a second."
He jumped up and drew the curtain over the door. Wade had pulled it
back when he came in.
"I must have that curtain altered," Valentine said. "It is so badly hung
that whenever the door is opened, it falls half way back, and looks
hideous. That is better."
He sat down again.
"We won't talk," he said.
"No. We'll give the--whatever it is every chance."
They were silent.
Presently--it might have been a quarter of an hour--Julian said
suddenly:
"Do you feel anything?"
"'M--no," Valentine answered, rather doubtfully.

"Sure?"
"I think so."
"You can't merely think you are sure, old chap."
"Well, then--yes, I'll say I am sure."
"Right," rejoined Julian.
Again there was a silence, broken this time by Valentine.
"Why did you ask me?" he said.
"Oh! no special reason. I just wanted to know."
"Then you didn't?"
"Didn't what?"
"Feel anything?"
"No; nothing particular."
"Well, what do you mean by that?"
"What I say. I can't be sure it was anything."
"That's vague."
"So was my--I can't even call it exactly sensation. It was so very slight.
In fact, I'm as good as sure I felt nothing at all. It was a mere fancy.
Nothing more."
And then again they were silent. The fire gradually died down until the
room grew quite dark. Presently Valentine said:
"Hulloh! here is Rip up against my foot. He is cold without the fire,
poor little beggar."

"Shall we stop?" asked Julian.
"Yes; I vote we do--for to-night."
Valentine struck a match, felt for the knob of the electric light, and
turned it on. Julian and he looked at each other, blinking.
"Think there's anything in it?" asked Julian.
"I don't know," said Valentine. "I suppose not. Rip! Rip! He is cold.
Did you ever see a dog shiver like that?"
He picked the little creature up in his arms. It nestled against his
shoulder with a deep sigh.
"Well, we have made a beginning," he said, turning to pour out a drink.
"It is rather interesting."
Julian was lighting a cigarette.
"Yes; it is--very." he answered.
Valentine gave him a brandy and soda; then, as if struck by a sudden
thought, asked:
"You really didn't feel anything?"
"No."
"Nor I. But then, Julian, why do we find it interesting?"
Julian looked puzzled.
"Hang it! I don't know," he answered,