Chapter 1 — Mr. Bedford Meets Mr. Cavor at Lympne

           AsIsitdowntowritehereamidsttheshadowsofvine-leavesundertheblueskyofsouthernItaly,itcomestomewithacertainqualityofastonishmentthatmyparticipationintheseamazingadventuresofMr.Cavorwas,afterall,theoutcomeofthepurestaccident.Itmighthavebeenanyone.IfellintothesethingsatatimewhenIthoughtmyselfremovedfromtheslightestpossibilityofdisturbingexperiences.IhadgonetoLympnebecauseIhadimagineditthemostuneventfulplaceintheworld.“Here,atanyrate,”saidI,“Ishallfindpeaceandachancetowork!”

           Andthisbookisthesequel.Soutterlyatvarianceisdestinywithallthelittleplansofmen.ImayperhapsmentionherethatveryrecentlyIhadcomeanuglycropperincertainbusinessenterprises.Sittingnowsurroundedbyallthecircumstancesofwealth,thereisaluxuryinadmittingmyextremity.Icanadmit,even,thattoacertainextentmydisasterswereconceivablyofmyownmaking.ItmaybetherearedirectionsinwhichIhavesomecapacity,buttheconductofbusinessoperationsisnotamongthese.ButinthosedaysIwasyoung,andmyyouthamongotherobjectionableformstookthatofaprideinmycapacityforaffairs.Iamyoungstillinyears,butthethingsthathavehappenedtomehaverubbedsomethingoftheyouthfrommymind.Whethertheyhavebroughtanywisdomtolightbelowitisamoredoubtfulmatter.

           ItisscarcelynecessarytogointothedetailsofthespeculationsthatlandedmeatLympne,inKent.Nowadaysevenaboutbusinesstransactionsthereisastrongspiceofadventure.Itookrisks.