LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1784, 8 November 1879, Page 3

LITERATURE.

A DINNER PARTY. [From the New York Sun.] Casserly paused at the top of the broad, brown steps, undecided whether to ring for admittance or to retire ignominionsly. It was already dark. No one was stirring on the street. To the right and to tho left there opened a tempting avenue of escape. He found his pocket handkerchief and wiped away tho perspiration from his forehead. He put his hand upon the bell knob, and stopped to think. The fagade of this mansion was a great cake of chocolate set on end. Its flat monotony was broken by a portico at the top of fourteen steps, which broadening descended to the sidewalk like the terraced waterfall of a muddy stream. The cornice of the portico was supported by two cylindrical columns of brown stone, with bastard Corinthian capitals. The windows were veiled with curtains of brown linen, of ebactly the same shade of tho stone front. The only bright spot which relieved the sombre exterior was immediately over tho door, where a flood of light poured through a plate of clear glass that bore, in large gilt figures, the number 13. Above all was dark, gloomy, forbidding. The eye ran up from tier to tier of tho windows till it reached the cornica of the roof, and lost itself among the stars in the sky. Casserly shuddered. The great 13, number of ill-omen, glared at him with intense hostility. The entire fagade frowned down upon him, as if it lacked, not the will or power, but only the energy to descend and crush and bury him. A policeman slowly passing cast at him_ a look of surly inquiry. Casserly did not stir. The policeman passed on, tossing his club and catching it when it reached the end of the leather tether that attached it to his wrist.

For ten or fifteen minutes Casserly stood on the step, leaning against one of the brown stone pillars reviewing the circumstances of his career of imposture. He felt that part of the blame ’oelonged to himself, part to his environment, part to the cursed law of heredity-. He remembered hla father, the auctioneer, glibly

rattling off hia professional stock of falsehoods. Be- remembered his mother the bluestocking, pretentiously discussing matters which she did not understand. He saw himself a boy at school, copying compositions out of books and passing them off as hia own. He saw himself a man, led from deceit to fraud by a weak hunger for adulation, building up an undeserved reputation for learning, recklessly appropriating the thoughts of other men, writing scientific articles for the local periodicals, lecturing before the lyceums in his native State, overshadowing with his plagiarisms and impudent pretensions the merit of honest scholars, seeking always to satisfy his vanity with homage to which he had no claim. He saw himself in New York at last, continuing on a larger scale the system of imposture which had succeeded so well in tho provinces. Days spent in the libraries, pil’aging the thoughts of the dead and absent; nights at his desk, arranging the plunder for display ; the fame won by his stolen essay on tho Extinct Pachyderms; the controversy started by his stolen paper on the Triangular Theory of Light j the social position which he was gaining by virtue of his supposed acquirements ; the newspaper notices which flattered his vanity while they excoriated his conscience ; tho complications of deceit aud fraud into which he plunged deeper and deeper—all these things came up to confront and terrify him as he stood at the door of the house to which ho had been invited to meet at dinner four of tho most eminent specialists of the ago, A'slight noise across the street recalled his vagrant senses. The policeman stood there watching him with undisguised interest. Dizzy and sick at heart Casserly rang the door bell and was admitted. Mrs Walter Hewey arose to meet her guest, policely concealing her annoyance at his tardiness. Everybody had ling been there. The four eminent scientists had yawned in each other’s society, while the hostess and her husband were undergoing an agony of suspense lest the young man should fail her. He.was the grand plat, the principle dish which she expected to serve up at her entertainment. His entrance set affairs in proper train. At the announcement of the butler, the hostess took the arm of Professor Cadder, Her husband and Mrs Professor Hemmingshaw led the way into the dining-room, Casserly came next, escorting Mrs Dr. Thwing, a dainty blonde with spectacles. Her plump white hand rested proudly on Casserly’sarm. Professor Flamway, a bachelor, and tho greatest entomologist of tho western hemisphere, gave his arm awkwardly to Mrs Cadder, and Professor Hemmingshaw and Dr. Thwing followed with Miss Rideout and Miss Crooker, two maidens of robust intellect and many summers, Mrs Walter Hewey and Profei sor Cadder made the rear. A slight mishap occurred at the outset Professor Plamway, who found his card without difficulty when he had anticipated much embarrassment in, the search, was so charmed with hia success that he seated himself before the others. Blushing to the root of his grey hair, he jumped up from his chair, and in doing so nearly overturned Miss Rideout, who was directly behind him. Recoiling from the encounter, he planted hia elbow squarely in tho midst of the wine glasses set at his place. There was a sharp oraoMe of crvstal and an involuntry. exclamation from Mias Rideout. ‘ I assure you I do—it was purely acci dental,’ stammered Prof. Flamway, addressing himself to the butler, who had promptly come to the rescue, and who received the apology with perfect gravity. The celebrated entomologist moodily applied himself to his oysters. Miss Crooker, who prided herself on her wit, spoke in a low tone to Miss Rideout, who laughed. Prof, Flamway took it for granted that the ladies were deriding his embarrassment, and he blushed redder than before. ‘Miss Crooker was remarking,’said Miss Rideout, with a sidelong glance at Casserly, ‘ that we are rapidly adding to the list of extinct pachyderms. ’ ’ But, my dear,’ said Mrs Hewey, ‘ are you quite sure that the oyster is a pachyderm ? My impression is that it is a polyp.’ ‘ Perhaps it is a pachydermatous] polyp,’ suggested Miss Rideout. Casserly felt that all eyes, were) turned upon him. He imagined that Dr. Thwing’s face wore a cynical smile. So he nervously remarked—- ‘ Let us not look too closely into .the pedigree of fcuch capital oysters as these, I. am disposed to accept them on their merits. As the dinner went on, the servants passing noiselessly behind the savants, exchanging platter and filling glasses, the ladies flushing in the heat of tho gas jets and under the subtle influence of the wine, tni Prof. Flamway gradually recovering his self-respect by means., of copious draughts, the conversation became steadier and more animated. Casserly did his utmost to keep it from drifting toward the topics which he dreaded. In his effort ha was indirectly assisted by the.four eminent specialists. They showed no eagerness to approach the fields in which they were so thoroughly at home. Casserly was grateful to them foe this forbearance, and tacitly gave them credit for modesty and good taste, But Mrs Walter Hewey did not intend that her dinner should lose the eclat of profoundly scientific discourse. At the first opportunity over an entree of ris de veau aux champignons, she leaned forward, and, raising her voice to reaoh the ears of Prof. Cadder, who sat half tho length of the table away, she remarked—- ‘ And the great work, Professor ? Does it advance ? ’ ‘ Slowly, madam,’ said he, casting a quick look at Casserly. ‘lt is the labor of a lifetime.’ 4 Von must know, Mr Casserly,’ said the hostess, ‘that the Professor is engaged on an exhaustive treatise on Chinese literature of the sixth century before Christ.’ 4 And it will bo delightful,’ cried Miss Rideout. ‘I am longing for its appearance.’ Prof. Cadder bowed in acknowledgment. Casserly put an expression of polite interest. ‘ I am sure Mr Casserly,’ continued Mrs Hewey, ‘ that you can appreciate the value of hia labors.’ Casserly blushed. He was rather nervous, but felt called upon to say something. 4 lt is a subject,’ he ventured, ‘ in which I have taken some interest - ’ The eminent sinologist eyed him askance. ‘I have thought,’ Casserly desperately continued, seeing that he was expected to make further remark on Chinese literature of the sixth century before Christ, ‘ that a version of the philosophical poem of the great Kwang-Hi, preserving the original meters, would ’ He stammered aud stopped, for he saw that Prof. Cadder was regarding him with a curious smile. 4 How straight he goes to the heart of the subject!’ said Miss Crooker in an audible whisper to Mias Rideout. ‘Ho has caught me,’ thought Casserly. • What a confounded fool I am to compromise myself by attempting details.' The dinner went on. The intense yellow light from the blazing chandelier overhead poured down in unrelenting flood upon the coiffures of the women and the bald beads of the scientists. Tho guests perspired. Mrs Dr. Thwing’s face was red. Beadlike drops, distilled by the heat and the wine, stood glistening upon her forehead and upon her fat white arms. She took a napkin, and, in shelter of the seoresy afforded by the tablecloth, stealthly wiped her arms up to the elbows. Casserly, who sat beside her, saw the deed. She perceived that he saw it, and her face grew rosier still. Mrs Hewey persistently directed the conversation to themes which she hoped would draw out Casserly. Like a strategist executing a flank movement, sho approached his intellectual works under cover of a feinted assault upon Dr. Thwing. Sho led that celebrated microscopist to tell about the wonderful floriated follicle from the small intertines of a pig, which ha had discovered yesterday under a binocular lens of 255 diameters. "He compared the spectacle to a bed of magnificent pansies. He became enthusiastic, and launched into a brilliant description of the Malpighian bodies in the splenic The hostess was enchanted. She glanced from Dr. Thwing to Casserly, who listened with a frozen smile, and then from Casserly back to Dr. Thwing. The dinner had taken a truly scientific turn. Meanwhile the servants removed the plates and brought clean plates, and the damask cloth lost some of its immaculate whiteness and i became littered witi crumbs, i 4 And what is your theory of ciliary ■ motion, sir ?’ asked tho celebrated micro* ’ soopiat, turning to Casserly,

‘ I deny it, sir,’ boldly replied Casserly, who felt that waa hia safest course.

‘ Deny it,’ gasped the microscopist, turning pale. * .And may I ask upon what grounds V ‘ This is charming,’ whispered Mias Orooker to Miss Rideout. Tim butler opened a window at the top The distant notes of a hand organ upon the street were faintly heard. ‘ I deny it,’ continued Casserly, growing reckless in the hopelessness of his situation; * because in the first place the—’ Fortunately, at this crisis, Prof. Flamway created a division by upsetting of a glass of wine upon the mauve silk overskirt of Miss Crooker. To relieve his pitiable confusion, Mrs Hewey politely inquired about the lepidoptera in his collections, and everybody talked of insectb.The dessert had been put in place. The various wines had had their effect upon Casserly. He no longer avoided the topics which the indefatigable hostess urged upon his attention. Apprehension had given way to a sort of sardonic joy in involving h : m-;-self deeper and deeper in difficulty. He piled Prof. Flamway with questions, and assailed him with arguments on controverted points in entomological science. He recklessly combated the positions which Prof. Hemmingshaw maintained in geology. Hepolitely sneered at Prof. Hemmingshaw’s favorite theory of the Trenton limestone. He perceived with singular pleasure an evident disinclination on the part of the four eminent specialists to prolong the conversation on their respective subjects. He saw his wilder and wilder statements received by them in silence, while a peculiar .expression grew upon their faces. Ho knew that ho was suspected—more than suspected, detectsd—hemmed in by a square at each corner of which sat a judge who could blast him with a word. He floundered 'on with the abandon of a man who has nothing to lose. The dinner was over at last. The women, fanning themselves vigorously, swept into the drawing room, the men moodily lighted their cigars. ‘ Prof. Hemmingshaw drew Casserly aside from the others. Both gentlemen were nervous and embarrassed. ‘ A man’s scientific reputation is his most precious treasure,’ began the Professor, significantly. Casserly assented.' He did not care, now what came to him. ‘ And a man who has been -sa'ling under false colors deserves to be exposed,’ continued the Professor, in a low voice. *He does.’ said Casserly. ‘ Yet mercy is a noble quality,’ added the Professor, who showed much more agitation than hia victim. Casserly bowed his head and waited. They looked into each other’s eyes. The Professor lowered hia lashes. ‘May I trust to your discretion?’- he stammered. A few minutes later Dr. Thwing. who was standing at the portfolio turning over- prints of Greek statuary, beckoned slyly to'Casserly. ‘ You must have observed,’ he whispered. Casserly nodded. ‘ I will be frank,’ the Doctor went on. * I place myself wholly on your forbearance. ’ 1 You have nothing to fear from ms,’ replied Casserly. with a.calm smile. As they walked toward the drawing room to rejoin the ladies, Prof. Gadder laid his hand appealingly upon Casserly’a arm. *We really know very little about Chinese literature of the sixth century before Christ,’ he tremulously remarked. * Yery little!’ said Casserly, in a severe tone. The eminent sinologist shrunk humbly away. And as Casserly wished Professor Flamway a very good night on the brown stone steps of the house which they had just left in company, the great entomologist bent tearful eyes upon him. ‘ Pray don’t expose me to the others,’ he said, in a piteous voice.