Vanstone had found
him still dawdling over his late breakfast, with an open letter by his
side, in place of the book which, on other occasions, lay ready to his
hand at meal-times. He held up the letter the moment his visitor came
into the room, and abruptly opened the conversation by asking Mr.
Vanstone if his nerves were in good order, and if he felt himself strong
enough for the shock of an overwhelming surprise.
"Nerves!" repeated Mr. Vanstone. "Thank God, I know nothing about my
nerves. If you have got anything to tell me, shock or no shock, out with
it on the spot."
Mr. Clare held the letter a little higher, and frowned at his visitor
across the breakfast-table. "What have I always told you?" he asked,
with his sourest solemnity of look and manner.
"A great deal more than I could ever keep in my head," answered Mr.
Vanstone.
"In your presence and out of it," continued Mr. Clare, "I have always
maintained that the one important phenomenon presented by modern society
is--the enormous prosperity of Fools. Show me an individual Fool, and
I will show you an aggregate Society which gives that highly-favored
personage nine chances out of ten--and grudges the tenth to the wisest
man in existence.
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