few were half tipsy.  These ardently welcomed anything in the nature of a row, and the romp became general and noisy.  Men danced awkwardly with one another, roaring the latest music-hall tunes at the pitch of their voices.  The women screamed with laughter, or giggled piercingly as they were banged and trodden on in the tumult.  The noise, penetrating to the promenade, drew the attention of the audience, many of whom hurried to see what was going on, and the block round the archways quickly became impenetrable.  One or two of the gigantic chuckers-out forced their way into the throng and seized the dancers nearest to them, but they were entirely unable to stay the ridiculous impulse which impelled this mob of young human beings to capering and yelling.  Indeed they merely increased the scuffle, which rapidly developed towards a free fight.  Hats were knocked off, dresses were torn.  The women got frightened and began to scream.  The men swore, and some lost their tempers and struck out right and left.  Valentine watched the scene with laughing eyes as if he enjoyed it.  Especially he watched Julian, who, with scarlet face and sparkling eyes, still forced Cuckoo round and round in the midst of the tumult.  Cuckoo was white, and seemed to be half fainting.  Her head rested helplessly against Julian’s shoulder, and her eyes stared at him as if fascinated.  Her dress was torn, and her black veil hung awry.  If she danced with the hours it was without joy or desire.

But suddenly police appeared.  The dancers, abruptly realizing that a joke was dying in a disaster, ceased to prance.  Some violently assumed airs of indifference and of alarming respectability.  Many sinuously wound their way out to the promenade.  A few, who had completely lost their heads, hustled the police, and were promptly taken into custody.  Julian would have been among these had it not been for the intervention of Valentine, who caught him by the shoulder, and drew him and Cuckoo away.

“No; you mustn’t end to-night in a cell,” he said in Julian’s ear.  “The dancing hours want you still.  Julian, you are only beginning your real life to-night.”

Julian, like a man in an excited dream, followed Valentine to the bottom of the broad stairs, on, through the blooming masses of flowers, to the entrance.  Two or three cabs were waiting.  Valentine put Cuckoo into one.  She had not spoken a word, and was trembling as if with fear.

“Get in, Julian.”

Julian obeyed, and Valentine, standing on the pavement, leaned forward and whispered to him: 

“Take her home, Julian.”

Suddenly Julian shouted Cuckoo’s address to the cabman hoarsely.

The cab drove away.

Valentine walked slowly towards Piccadilly Circus, whistling softly,
“I want you, my honey; yes, I do.”

BOOK III—­THE LADY OF THE FEATHERS

CHAPTER I