Short Commons 157
Certainly,” admitted Lamus, “and now, I’m
encouraging you to stop.” ,
‘“‘T thought you believed in do what you like; you're
always saying it.”
‘I beg your pardon,” came the sharp retort. “Il
never said anything of the kind. I said, ‘Do what thou
wilt,’ and I say it again. But that’s a horse of quite
a different colour.”
“But we need the stuff,” pleaded Peter. ‘ We've
got to have it. Why did you induce us to take it ? ”
“Why,” he laughed subtly, “it’s my will to want
you to do your will.”
‘Yes, and I want the stuff.”
“ Acute psychologist as you are, Sir Peter, you have
failed to grasp my meaning. I fearI express myself
badly.”
Cockie was boiling inwardly, yet he was so weak and
faint that he was like a lamb. I myself would have
killed Lamus if I had had the means. I felt that he
was deliberately torturing us for his own enjoyment.
“Oh, I see,’”’ said Cockie, “‘ I forgot what you were.
What’s your figure ? ”’
The point blank insult did not even make him smile.
He turned to the tall girl who was at the desk, correcting
proofs. ,
‘“‘ Note the characteristic reaction,” he said to her,
as if we had been a couple of rabbits that he was vivi-
secting. ‘“‘ They don’t understand my point of view.
They misquote my words, after hearing them every time
we have met. They misinterpret four words of one
syllable, ‘Do what thou wilt.’ Finally realising their
lack of comprehension, they assume at once that I
must be one of the filthiest scoundrels unhanged.”
He turned back to Cockie with a little bow of
apology.
“Do try. to get some idea of what I’m saying,” he
said very earnestly.
I was bursting with hatred, brimming with suspicion,
aghast with contempt. Yet he forced me to feel his