Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 1, 1922 — page 124: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

914 i] ‘“T pray that you will think twice, sir.” ‘*T shall, North, if you advise it.” “‘ Sir, it would be a most unfortunate mis- step, I assure you. It is my confident opinion.” Dickon unconsciously grew tense; there was a@ vague fear that Vincent had drawn the valet into his confidence; he brushed the thought away. ‘“ But,” said Vincent, “ the one-buttoned type is much in use, and very well con- sidered.”’ Dickon shut his teeth hard to keep from breaking into noisy laughter. “Much in use,” said the valet with emo- tion. ‘I am profoundly sorry to admit, sir, that you are right. But so were hoop skirts, at a time; and to my eyes the hoop skirt itself is no more offensive than the one-button morning coat.” There was a pause, ‘‘H-m!” said Vincent. ‘I am glad that I have this chance to talk the matter over with you, North. Your opinion in matters of dress I have always held second only to the judgment of Lord Ainsley, though I fear that he erred more often on the side of radicalism than you do on the side of conservatism.” “Sir, I am proud to hear you say this. I may remark, however, that Lord Ainsley’s much admired—and justly admired—taste, seems to me unfounded upon a strong prin- ciple.” “‘So? You surprise me. And what is your own principle, Northr” ‘“ Repose, sir.” | “Good! A Grecian idea, I would say.” ‘‘ Perhaps, sir.”’ “ Returning to the one-button morning coat, I can’t help feeling that there is a certain freshness about it—devilish cheer- ful, you know, to see a man stepping along in such a coat.” “ Dashing, I admit, but hardly in tone. Observe that it is impossible for a coat to be fastened by only one button without making a line of unpleasant tension, so that it is apt to draw toward the button both from above and below if the garment is fitted at all snugly.” ‘“‘T think there’s something in that.” ‘‘T am sure of it, sir. Furthermore, there ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. is an exaggeration about such a coat that calls the public eye. I, sir, would as soon appear on Broadway in my bathrobe as in a one-button morning coat. I would feel the vulgar eye too familiarly fixed on me!” There was a brief pause during which Dickon shrewdly guessed that Vincent was controlling a desire to laugh. Decidedly, the smooth fellow was being particularly amiable with North for a purpose. ‘“That’s a bit strong,” said Vincent. ‘“My feelings on the matter may have carried me away, sir. Yet I will venture to say that though you have contemplated wearing one of these coats, yet you have never actually appeared in public in one.” ‘““T admit that you’re right there. I’ve tried them on a dozen times, at least. I have even had a pair of them tailored for me. But when I came to slipping into one of them for the morning something always held me back by a thread.” ‘The power of innate fine taste,” said William North solemnly. “I knew it would be this way.” ‘As a matter of fact,” said Vincent, “you have convinced me.” ‘It is a compliment to be allowed to make a suggestion to Mr. Vincent, sir.” ‘Tush, North. I consider you a criterion, and I always have. You will never know how close I came to making business ap- proaches to you after the death of my friend Devening. But my man Tom is.so damned headstrong that he would never get on with another fellow in the house, particularly one of your talents, North.” ‘ Thank you, sir. I know him very well.” “So, so. But infernally set in his ways. By jove, I grow positively restless, but I can’t imagine life without Tom.” ‘* Personally, sir, 1 always make it a point to establish a fixed routine.” ‘““T suppose so. I can already see the effects of it in Mr. Greene. I noticed he was very well turned out to-night.” ‘You are very kind, sir. Mr. Devening was a continual trial, but Mr. Greene is extremely simple, sir.’ “ T’m glad you get on well with him. By the way, I was rather surprised when you left the Devenings. Their household has never been the same since you went away.” DOOK C©