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Zuleika Dobson; Or, An Oxford Love Story
·
Sir Max Beerbohm
103
And
to-night,
but
that
he
had
invited
Oover
to
dine
with
him,
he
could
have
been
dining
with
Zuleika.
And
this
was
his
last
dinner
on
earth.
Such
thoughts
made
him
the
less
able
to
take
pleasure
in
his
guest.
Perfect,
however,
the
amenity
of
his
manner.
This
was
the
more
commendable
because
Oover’s
“aura”
was
even
more
disturbing
than
that
of
the
average
Rhodes
Scholar.
To-night,
besides
the
usual
conflicts
in
this
young
man’s
bosom,
raged
a
special
one
between
his
desire
to
behave
well
and
his
jealousy
of
the
man
who
had
to-day
been
Miss
Dobson’s
escort.
In
theory
he
denied
the
Duke’s
right
to
that
honour.
In
sentiment
he
admitted
it.
Another
conflict,
you
see.
And
another.
He
longed
to
orate
about
the
woman
who
had
his
heart;
yet
she
was
the
one
topic
that
must
be
shirked.
The
MacQuern
and
Mr.
Trent-Garby,
Sir
John
Marraby
and
Lord
Sayes,
they
too--though
they
were
no
orators--would
fain
have
unpacked
their
hearts
in
words
about
Zuleika.
They
spoke
of
this
and
that,
automatically,
none
listening
to
another--each
man
listening,
wide-eyed,
to
his
own
heart’s
solo
on
the
Zuleika
theme,
and
drinking
rather
more
champagne
than
was
good
for
him.
Maybe,
these
youths
sowed
in
themselves,
on
this
night,
the
seeds
of
lifelong
intemperance.
We
cannot
tell.
They
did
not
live
long
enough
for
us
to
know.
While
the
six
dined,
a
seventh,
invisible
to
them,
leaned
moodily
against
the
mantel-piece,
watching
them.
He
was
not
of
their
time.
His
long
brown
hair
was
knotted
in
a
black
riband
behind.
He
wore
a
pale
brocaded
coat
and
lace
ruffles,
silken
stockings,
a
sword.
Privy
to
their
doom,
he
watched
them.
He
was
loth
that
his
Junta
must
die.
Yes,
his.
Could
the
diners
have
seen
him,
they
would
have
known
him
by
his
resemblance
to
the
mezzotint
portrait
that
hung
on
the
wall
above
him.
They
would
have
risen
to
their
feet
in
presence
of
Humphrey
Greddon,
founder
and
first
president
of
the
club.
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