Page:Firecrackers a realistic novel.pdf/184

 fore he was married he was all mixed up in his subconscious—and every other way, too, but he wasn't aware of that yet, although his friends had their suspicions. So he went to Dr. Leonard and was psyched and all his suppressed desires were pulled out into the open, but when he married he discovered that these released desires weren't strong enough to see him through, and so he resorted to goat glands.

And lived happily ever after? Gareth queried.

My dear, you're wrong. They won't last six months. He'll be taking the Steinach treatment before the year's out. There's a tragic anecdote for you, Johns.

Too tragic, I fear. The public demands pleasant stories, I'm learning.

The group was interrupted by a dark beauty in flaming velvet who verbally assaulted the author without the formality of an introduction.

I just loved Two on the Seine, she avowed. I love all your books. What was that other one? O, yes, Black Oxen.

That is my own favourite, Gareth remarked.

Florizel, who is the girl? Campaspe inquired, as soon as the novelist's admirer was out of ear-shot.

That's Mahalah Wiggins, the actress.

Where does she act?

In an old-fashioned piece of furniture with four posts. Have you heard. . . Florizel continued without pause. . . about Isabel in Venice, the city