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lighted back windows。 He had simply given himself away to a band
of adventurers。 The idea； the word itself； wore a romantic horror
for him … he had always lived on such safe lines。 Later it assumed
a more interesting； almost a soothing； sense： it pointed a moral；
and Pemberton could enjoy a moral。 The Moreens were adventurers
not merely because they didn't pay their debts； because they lived
on society； but because their whole view of life； dim and confused
and instinctive； like that of clever colour…blind animals； was
speculative and rapacious and mean。 Oh they were 〃respectable；〃
and that only made them more immondes。 The young man's analysis；
while he brooded； put it at last very simply … they were
adventurers because they were toadies and snobs。 That was the
completest account of them … it was the law of their being。 Even
when this truth became vivid to their ingenious inmate he remained
unconscious of how much his mind had been prepared for it by the
extraordinary little boy who had now become such a complication in
his life。 Much less could he then calculate on the information he
was still to owe the extraordinary little boy。
CHAPTER V
But it was during the ensuing time that the real problem came up …
the problem of how far it was excusable to discuss the turpitude of
parents with a child of twelve； of thirteen； of fourteen。
Absolutely inexcusable and quite impossible it of course at first
appeared； and indeed the question didn't press for some time after
Pemberton had received his three hundred francs。 They produced a
temporary lull； a relief from the sharpest pressure。 The young man
frugally amended his wardrobe and even had a few francs in his
pocket。 He thought the Moreens looked at him as if he were almost
too smart； as if they ought to take care not to spoil him。 If Mr。
Moreen hadn't been such a man of the world he would perhaps have
spoken of the freedom of such neckties on the part of a
subordinate。 But Mr。 Moreen was always enough a man of the world
to let things pass … he had certainly shown that。 It was singular
how Pemberton guessed that Morgan； though saying nothing about it；
knew something had happened。 But three hundred francs； especially
when one owed money； couldn't last for ever； and when the treasure
was gone … the boy knew when it had failed … Morgan did break
ground。 The party had returned to Nice at the beginning of the
winter； but not to the charming villa。 They went to an hotel；
where they stayed three months； and then moved to another
establishment； explaining that they had left the first because；
after waiting and waiting； they couldn't get the rooms they wanted。
These apartments； the rooms they wanted； were generally very
splendid； but fortunately they never COULD get them … fortunately；
I mean； for Pemberton； who reflected always that if they had got
them there would have been a still scantier educational fund。 What
Morgan said at last was said suddenly； irrelevantly； when the
moment came； in the middle of a lesson； and consisted of the
apparently unfeeling words： 〃You ought to filer； you know … you
really ought。〃
Pemberton stared。 He had learnt enough French slang from Morgan to
know that to filer meant to cut sticks。 〃Ah my dear fellow； don't
turn me off！〃
Morgan pulled a Greek lexicon toward him … he used a Greek…German …
to look out a word； instead of asking it of Pemberton。 〃You can't
go on like this； you know。〃
〃Like what； my boy？〃
〃You know they don't pay you up；〃 said Morgan； blushing and turning
his leaves。
〃Don't pay me？〃 Pemberton stared again and feigned amazement。
〃What on earth put that into your head？〃
〃It has been there a long time；〃 the boy replied rummaging his
book。
Pemberton was silent； then he went on： 〃I say； what are you
hunting for？ They pay me beautifully。〃
〃I'm hunting for the Greek for awful whopper；〃 Morgan dropped。
〃Find that rather for gross impertinence and disabuse your mind。
What do I want of money？〃
〃Oh that's another question！〃
Pemberton wavered … he was drawn in different ways。 The severely
correct thing would have been to tell the boy that such a matter
was none of his business and bid him go on with his lines。 But
they were really too intimate for that； it was not the way he was
in the habit of treating him； there had been no reason it should
be。 On the other hand Morgan had quite lighted on the truth … he
really shouldn't be able to keep it up much longer； therefore why
not let him know one's real motive for forsaking him？ At the same
time it wasn't decent to abuse to one's pupil the family of one's
pupil； it was better to misrepresent than to do that。 So in reply
to his comrade's last exclamation he just declared； to dismiss the
subject； that he had received several payments。
〃I say … I say！〃 the boy ejaculated； laughing。
〃That's all right；〃 Pemberton insisted。 〃Give me your written
rendering。〃
Morgan pushed a copybook across the table； and he began to read the
page； but with something running in his head that made it no sense。
Looking up after a minute or two he found the child's eyes fixed on
him and felt in them something strange。 Then Morgan said： 〃I'm
not afraid of the stern reality。〃
〃I haven't yet seen the thing you ARE afraid of … I'll do you that
justice！〃
This came out with a jump … it was perfectly true … and evidently
gave Morgan pleasure。 〃I've thought of it a long time；〃 he
presently resumed。
〃Well； don't think of it any more。〃
The boy appeared to comply； and they had a comfortable and even an
amusing hour。 They had a theory that they were very thorough； and
yet they seemed always to be in the amusing part of lessons； the
intervals between the dull dark tunnels； where there were waysides
and jolly views。 Yet the morning was brought to a violent as end
by Morgan's suddenly leaning his arms on the table； burying his
head in them and bursting into tears： at which Pemberton was the
more startled that； as it then came over him； it was the first time
he had ever seen the boy cry and that the impression was
consequently quite awful。
The next day； after much thought； he took a decision and； believing
it to be just； immediately acted on it。 He cornered Mr。 and Mrs。
Moreen again and let them know that if on the spot they didn't pay
him all they owed him he wouldn't only leave their house but would
tell Morgan exactly what had brought him to it。
〃Oh you HAVEN'T told him？〃 cried Mrs。 Moreen with a pacifying hand
on her well…dressed bosom。
〃Without warning you？ For what do you take me？〃 the young man
returned。
Mr。 and Mrs。 Moreen looked at each other； he could see that they
appreciated； as tending to their security； his superstition of
delicacy； and yet that there was a certain alarm in their relief。
〃My dear fellow；〃 Mr。 Moreen demanded； 〃what use can you have；