Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
290
Zuleika Dobson; Or, An Oxford Love Story
·
Sir Max Beerbohm
191
Within
these
bounds,
however,
he
must
put
forth
his
full
might
to
avert
the
general
catastrophe--and
to
punish
Zuleika
nearly
well
enough,
after
all,
by
intercepting
that
vast
nosegay
from
her
outstretched
hands
and
her
distended
nostrils.
There
was
no
time
to
be
lost,
then.
But
he
wondered,
as
he
paced
the
grand
curve
between
St.
Mary’s
and
Magdalen
Bridge,
just
how
was
he
to
begin?
Down
the
flight
of
steps
from
Queen’s
came
lounging
an
average
undergraduate.
“Mr.
Smith,”
said
the
Duke,
“a
word
with
you.”
“But
my
name
is
not
Smith,”
said
the
young
man.
“Generically
it
is,”
replied
the
Duke.
“You
are
Smith
to
all
intents
and
purposes.
That,
indeed,
is
why
I
address
you.
In
making
your
acquaintance,
I
make
a
thousand
acquaintances.
You
are
a
short
cut
to
knowledge.
Tell
me,
do
you
seriously
think
of
drowning
yourself
this
afternoon?”
“Rather,”
said
the
undergraduate.
“A
meiosis
in
common
use,
equivalent
to
‘Yes,
assuredly,’”
murmured
the
Duke.
“And
why,”
he
then
asked,
“do
you
mean
to
do
this?”
“Why?
How
can
you
ask?
Why
are
YOU
going
to
do
it?”
“The
Socratic
manner
is
not
a
game
at
which
two
can
play.
Please
answer
my
question,
to
the
best
of
your
ability.”
“Well,
because
I
can’t
live
without
her.
Because
I
want
to
prove
my
love
for
her.
Because--”
“One
reason
at
a
time
please,”
said
the
Duke,
holding
up
his
hand.
“You
can’t
live
without
her?
Then
I
am
to
assume
that
you
look
forward
to
dying?”
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
