They still amaze me. I can even now hardly believe that these things really took place.
Now, I still tried to love Derry. The memory of what he had been was not yet totally effaced. Besides, I had promised him a dinner five years ago, and as a man of honour I must carry out my engagement. Therefore, near the end of the performance, I asked him if he would dine with me at my club on the following evening, for I knew that he was to be but two nights in London on this occasion. He answered that he had already promised to dine that night with Thoms. There followed a constrained silence, which Thoms at length broke by saying that he hoped I would dine with him and Derry. To this I replied that I had an engagement for to-morrow night to dine with some old friends out of which I could not possibly escape. Then there was another constrained silence.
I have never seen either Derry or Thoms again.
That is why I am able so heartily to sympathise with my wife when she found the fishing talk of Wickham and Chavender insupportable. That is why I insisted upon their talking about the drama.
