The True Will 345
‘“ Confound the fellow and his eternal metaphysics,”
I thought.
‘‘I haven’t the least idea,’’ I answered sharply,
‘‘ and what’s more, I’ve no time to waste on this occult
stuff of yours. Don’t think I’m rude. I’m very grateful
for all you’ve done for me.”
Strangely enough, the memory of the last few months
had just returned to my mind. Yet it was merely the
background of the burning flame of thought that filled
my consciousness.
Basil did not answer, and as we walked down the
hill together I began to explain my ideas about the
new helicopter. Almost without knowing it, we had
reached the door of the large house which the Abbey
used for a refectory, and we sat down on the stone seats
which lined its north-eastern wall, and gazed over the
marvellous prospect.
The refectory was set on a steep slope. The ground
fell sharply away from below our feet. On the left,
the great rock towered even more tremendously than
on the other side; and on the right, the hills above
the coast-line danced away into dim purple. In front
was a strange jagged headland crowned with a fantastic
cluster of rocks, and beyond this the great sea stretched
away, in masses of greens and blues and violets, to
where a number of volcanic islands slumbered dimly
on the horizon.
Basil annoyed me intensely by interpolating remarks
about the beauty of the scenery. I couldn’t seem to
interest him in the helicopter at all. Was I really
talking such rubbish?
“I’m too old to be snubbed, Sir Peter,” (Oh, yes, I
was Sir Peter now! Of course I was.) he interjected,
shaking me gently by the shoulder.
‘I had paused to clear up a point in my mind about
one of the gauges.
“‘ And I must remind you that you are a gentleman ;
and that when you came to this Abbey the first thing
you did was to sign a pledge-form.”