Bennett, Arnold, 1867-1931 / 2008-07-26 00:00:00


"Come to the theatre with us to-night, Omega?" said Mr. Alpha.
"I don't think we will," said Mr. Omega.
"But we particularly want you to," insisted Mr. Alpha.
"Well, it can't be done," said Mr. Omega.
"Got another engagement?"
"No."
"Then why won't you come? You don't mean to tell me you're hard up?"
"Yes, I do," said Mr. Omega.
"Then you ought to be ashamed of yourself. What have you been doing
with your money lately?"
"I've taken out a biggish life assurance policy, and the premiums will
be a strain. I paid the first yesterday. I'm bled white."
"Holy Moses!" exclaimed Mr. Alpha, shrugging his shoulders.
The flat was shortly afterwards to let. The exclamation "Holy Moses!"
may be in itself quite harmless, and innocuous to friendship, if it is
pronounced in the right, friendly tone. Unfortunately Mr. Alpha used
it with a sarcastic inflection, implying that he regarded Mr. Omega as
a prig, a fussy old person, a miser, a spoilsport, and, indeed,
something less than a man.
"You can only live your life once," said Mr. Alpha.
And they curved gradually apart. This was in 1893.


II

Nearly twenty years later--that is to say, not long since--I had a
glimpse of Mr.
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