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The Egotist Becomes a Personage
Thisproblemofpovertytransformed,magnified,attachedtosomegrander,moredignifiedattitudemightsomedayevenbehisproblem;atpresentitrousedonlyhisprofounddistaste.
HewalkedovertoFifthAvenue,dodgingtheblind,blackmenaceofumbrellas,andstandinginfrontofDelmonico’shailedanauto-bus.Buttoninghiscoatcloselyaroundhimheclimbedtotheroof,whereherodeinsolitarystatethroughthethin,persistentrain,stungintoalertnessbythecoolmoistureperpetuallyrebornonhischeek.Somewhereinhismindaconversationbegan,ratherresumeditsplaceinhisattention.Itwascomposednotoftwovoices,butofone,whichactedalikeasquestionerandanswerer:
Question.—Well—what’sthesituation?
Answer.—ThatIhaveabouttwenty-fourdollarstomyname.
Q.—YouhavetheLakeGenevaestate.
A.—ButIintendtokeepit.
Q.—Canyoulive?
A.—Ican’timaginenotbeingableto.PeoplemakemoneyinbooksandI’vefoundthatIcanalwaysdothethingsthatpeopledoinbooks.ReallytheyaretheonlythingsIcando.
Q.—Bedefinite.
A.—Idon’tknowwhatI’lldo—norhaveImuchcuriosity.To-morrowI’mgoingtoleaveNewYorkforgood.It’sabadtownunlessyou’reontopofit.
Q.—Doyouwantalotofmoney?
A.—No.Iammerelyafraidofbeingpoor.
Q.—Veryafraid?
A.—Justpassivelyafraid.
Q.—Whereareyoudrifting?
A.—Don’taskme!
Q.—Don’tyoucare?
A.—Rather.Idon’twanttocommitmoralsuicide.
Q.—Haveyounointerestsleft?
A.—None.I’venomorevirtuetolose.
