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coarse。 His mouth was large； his lips were heavy and sensual。 No； I
could not have placed him。
〃You won't go back to your wife？〃 I said at last。
〃Never。〃
〃She's willing to forget everything that's happened and start afresh。
She'll never make you a single reproach。〃
〃She can go to hell。〃
〃You don't care if people think you an utter blackguard？ You don't care
if she and your children have to beg their bread？〃
〃Not a damn。〃
I was silent for a moment in order to give greater force to my next
remark。 I spoke as deliberately as I could。
〃You are a most unmitigated cad。〃
〃Now that you've got that off your chest； let's go and have dinner。〃
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The Moon and Sixpence
Chapter XIII
I dare say it would have been more seemly to decline this proposal。 I
think perhaps I should have made a show of the indignation I really felt；
and I am sure that Colonel MacAndrew at least would have thought well
of me if I had been able to report my stout refusal to sit at the same table
with a man of such character。 But the fear of not being able to carry it
through effectively has always made me shy of assuming the moral
attitude； and in this case the certainty that my sentiments would be lost on
Strickland made it peculiarly embarrassing to utter them。 Only the poet
or the saint can water an asphalt pavement in the confident anticipation
that lilies will reward his labour。
I paid for what we had drunk； and we made our way to a cheap
restaurant； crowded and gay； where we dined with pleasure。 I had the
appetite of youth and he of a hardened conscience。 Then we went to a
tavern to have coffee and liqueurs。
I had said all I had to say on the subject that had brought me to Paris；
and though I felt it in a manner treacherous to Mrs。 Strickland not to
pursue it； I could not struggle against his indifference。 It requires the
feminine temperament to repeat the same thing three times with unabated
zest。 I solaced myself by thinking that it would be useful for me to find
out what I could about Strickland's state of mind。 It also interested me
much more。 But this was not an easy thing to do； for Strickland was not
a fluent talker。 He seemed to express himself with difficulty； as though
words were not the medium with which his mind worked； and you had to
guess the intentions of his soul by hackneyed phrases； slang； and vague；
unfinished gestures。 But though he said nothing of any consequence；
there was something in his personality which prevented him from being
dull。 Perhaps it was sincerity。 He did not seem to care much about the
Paris he was now seeing for the first time （I did not count the visit with his
wife）； and he accepted sights which must have been strange to him
without any sense of astonishment。 I have been to Paris a hundred times；
and it never fails to give me a thrill of excitement； I can never walk its
streets without feeling myself on the verge of adventure。 Strickland
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The Moon and Sixpence
remained placid。 Looking back； I think now that he was blind to
everything but to some disturbing vision in his soul。
One rather absurd incident took place。 There were a number of
harlots in the tavern： some were sitting with men； others by themselves；
and presently I noticed that one of these was looking at us。 When she
caught Strickland's eye she smiled。 I do not think he saw her。 In a little
while she went out； but in a minute returned and； passing our table； very
politely asked us to buy her something to drink。 She sat down and I
began to chat with her； but； it was plain that her interest was in Strickland。
I explained that he knew no more than two words of French。 She tried to
talk to him； partly by signs； partly in pidgin French； which； for some
reason； she thought would be more comprehensible to him； and she had
half a dozen phrases of English。 She made me translate what she could
only express in her own tongue； and eagerly asked for the meaning of his
replies。 He was quite good…tempered； a little amused； but his
indifference was obvious。
〃I think you've made a conquest；〃 I laughed。
〃I'm not flattered。〃
In his place I should have been more embarrassed and less calm。 She
had laughing eyes and a most charming mouth。 She was young。 I
wondered what she found so attractive in Strickland。 She made no secret
of her desires； and I was bidden to translate。
〃She wants you to go home with her。〃
〃I'm not taking any；〃 he replied。
I put his answer as pleasantly as I could。 It seemed to me a little
ungracious to decline an invitation of that sort； and I ascribed his refusal to
lack of money。
〃But I like him；〃 she said。 〃Tell him it's for love。〃
When I translated this； Strickland shrugged his shoulders impatiently。
〃Tell her to go to hell；〃 he said。
His manner made his answer quite plain； and the girl threw back her
head with a sudden gesture。 Perhaps she reddened under her paint。 She
rose to her feet。
she said。
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The Moon and Sixpence
She walked out of the inn。 I was slightly vexed。
〃There wasn't any need to insult her that I can see；〃 I said。 〃After all； it
was rather a compliment she was paying you。〃
〃That sort of thing makes me sick；〃 he said roughly。
I looked at him curiously。 There was a real distaste in his face； and
yet it was the face of a coarse and sensual man。 I suppose the girl had been
attracted by a certain brutality in it。
I could have got all the women I wanted in London。 I didn't come
here for that。〃
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The Moon and Sixpence
Chapter XIV
During the journey back to England I thought much of Strickland。 I
tried to set in order what I had to tell his wife。 It was unsatisfactory； and I
could not imagine that she would be content with me； I was not content
with myself。 Strickland perplexed me。 I could not understand his
motives。 When I had asked him what first gave him the idea of being a
painter； he was unable or unwilling to tell me。 I could make nothing of it。
I tried to persuade myself than an obscure feeling of revolt had been
gradually coming to a head in his slow mind； but to challenge this was the
undoubted fact that he had never shown any impatience with the
monotony of his life。 If； seized by an intolerable boredom； he had
determined to be a painter merely to break with irksome ties； it would
have been comprehensible； and commonplace； but commonplace is
precisely what I felt he was not。 At last； because I was romantic； I
devised an explanation which I acknowledged to be far…fetched； but which
was the only one that in any way satisfied me。 It was this： I asked
myself whether there was not in his soul some deep…rooted instinct of
creation； which the circumstances of his life had obscured； but which grew
relentlessly； as a cancer may grow in the living tissues； till at last it took
possession of his whole being and forced him irresistibly to action。 The
cuckoo lays its egg in the strange bird's nest； and when the young one is
hatched it shoulders its foster…brothers out and breaks at last the nest that
has sheltered it。
But how strange it was that the creative instinct should seize upon this
dull stockbroker； to his own ruin； perhaps； and to the misfortune of such