'The other thing； of course； you have guessed … Sebastian。 She wants him。 I don't know if that's possible。 Is it？'
'I hear he's in a very bad way。'
'We heard that； too。 We cabled to the last address we had； but there was no answer。 There still may be time for him to see her。 I thought of you as the only hope； as soon； as I heard you were in England。 Will you try and get him？ It's an awful lot to ask； but I think Sebastian would want it； too； if he realized。'
'I'll try。'
'There's no one else we can ask。 Rex is so busy。'
'Yes。 I heard reports of all he's been doing organizing the gas works。'
'Oh yes；' Julia said with a touch of her old dryness。 'He's made a lot of kudos out of the strike。'
Then we talked for a few minutes about the Bratt's squad。 She told me Brideshead had refused to take any public service because he was not satisfied with the justice of the cause； Cordelia was in London； in bed now； as she had been watching by her mother all night。 I told her I had taken up architectural painting and that I enjoyed it。 All this talk was nothing； we had said all we had to say in the first two minutes； I stayed for tea and then left her。
Air France ran a service of a kind to Casablanca； there I took the bus to Fez； starting at dawn and arriving in the new town at evening。 I telephoned from the hotel to the British Consul and dined with him that evening； in his charming house by the walls of the old town。 He was a kind； serious man。
'I'm delighted someone has e to took after young Flyte at last；' he said。 'He's been something of a thorn in our sides here。 This is no place for a remittance man。 The French don't understand him at all。 They think everyone who's not engaged in trade is a spy。 It's not as though he lived like a Milord。 Things aren't easy here。 There's war going on not thirty miles from this house； though you might not think it。 We had some young fools on bicycles only last week who'd e to volunteer for Abdul Krim's army。
'Then the Moors are a tricky lot； they don't hold with drink and our young friend； as you may know； spends most of his day drinking。 What does he want to e here for？ There's plenty of room for him at Rabat or Tangier； where they cater for tourists。 He's taken a house in the native town； you know。 I tried to stop him； but he got it from a Frenchman in the Department of Arts。 I don't say there's any harm in him； but he's an anxiety。 There's an awful fellow sponging on him … a German out of the Foreign Legion。 A thoroughly bad hat by all accounts。 There's bound to be trouble。
'Mind you； I like Flyte。 I don't see much of him。 He used to e here for baths until he got fixed up at his house。 He was always perfectly charming； and my wife took a great fancy to him。 What he needs is occupation。'
I explained my errand。
'You'll probably find him at home now。 Goodness knows there's nowhere to go in the evenings in the old town。 If you like I'll send the porter to show you the way。'
So I set out after dinner； with the consular porter going ahead lantern in hand。 Morocco was a new and strange country to me。 Driving that day； mile after mile； up the smooth； strategic road； past the vineyards and military posts and the new； white settlements and the early crops already standing high in the vast； open fields； and the hoardings advertising the staples of France … Dubonnet； Michelin； Magasin du Louvre … I had thought it all very suburban and up…to…date； now； under the stars； in the walled city； whose streets were gentle； dusty stairways； and whose walls rose windowless on either side； closed overhead； then opened again to the stars； where the dust lay thick among the smooth paving stones and figures passed silently； robed in white； on soft slippers or hard； bare soles； where the air was scented with cloves and incense and wood smoke … now I knew what had drawn… Sebastian here and held him so long。
The consular porter strode arrogantly ahead with his light swinging and his tall cane banging； sometimes an open doorway revealed a silent group seated in golden lamplight round a brazier。
'Very dirty peoples；' the porter said scornfully； over his shoulder。 'No education。 French leave them dirty。 Not like British peoples。 My peoples；' he said； 'always very British peoples。'
For he was from the Sudan Police； and regarded this ancient centre of his culture as a New Zealander might regard Rome。
At length we came to the last of many studded doors； and the porter beat on it with his stick。
'British Lord's house；' he said。
Lamplight and a dark face appeared at the grating。 The consular porter spoke peremptorily； bolts were withdrawn and we entered a small courtyard with a well in its centre and a vine trained overhead。
'I wait here；' said the porter。 'You go with this native fellow。' I entered the house； down a step and into the living…room I found a gramophone； an oil…stove and； between them； a young man。 Later； when I looked about me； I noticed other； more agreeable things … the rugs on the floor； the embroidered silk on the walls； the carved and painted beams of the ceiling； the heavy； pierced lamp that hung from a chain and cast soft shadows of its own tracery about the room。 But on first entering these three things； the gramophone for its noise … it was playing a French record of jazz band … the stove for its smell； and the young man for his wolfish look； struck my senses。 He was lolling in a basket chair； with a bandaged foot stuck forward on a box； he was dressed in a kind of thin； mid…European imitation tweed with a tennis shirt open at the neck； the unwounded foot wore a brown canvas shoe。 There was a brass tray by his side on wooden legs； and on it were two beer bottles； a dirty plate； and a saucer full of cigarette ends； he held a glass of beer in his hand and a cigarette lay on his lower lip and stuck there when he spoke。 He had long fair hair bed back without a parting and a face that was unnaturally lined for a man of his obvious youth； one of his front teeth was missing； so that his sibilants came sometimes with a lisp； sometimes with a disconcerting whistle； which he covered with a giggle； the teeth he had were stained with tobacco and set far apart。
This was plainly the 'thoroughly bad hat' of the consul's description； the film footman of Anthony's。
'I'm looking for Sebastian Flyte。 This is his house； is it not？' I spoke loudly to make myself heard above the dance music； but he answered softly in English fluent enough to suggest that it was now habitual to him。
'Yeth。 But he isn't here。 There's no one but me。'
'I've e from England to see him on important business。 Can you tell me where I can find him？'
The record came to its end。 The German turned it over； wound up the machine and started it playing again before answering。
'Sebastian's sick。 The brothers took him away to the Infirmary。 Maybe they'll let you thee him； maybe not。 I got to go there myself one day thoon to have my foot dressed。 I'll ask them then。 When he's better they'll let you thee him； maybe。'
There was another chair and I sat down on it。 Seeing that I meant to stay； the German offered me some beer。
'You're not Thebastian's brother？' he said。 'Cousin maybe？ Maybe you married hith thister？'
'I'm only a friend。 We were at the university together。'
'I had a friend at the university。 We studied History。 My friend was cleverer than me； a little weak fellow … I used to pick him up and shake him when I was angry … but tho clever。 Then one day we said： 〃What the hell？ There is no work in Germany。 Germany is down the drain；〃 so we said good…bye to our professors； and they said： 〃Yes； Germany is down the drain。 There is nothing for a student to do here now；〃 and we went away and walked and walked and at last we came here。 Then we said； 〃There is no army in Germany now； but we must be tholdiers；〃 so we joined the Legion。 My friend died of dysentery last year； campaigning in the Atlas。 When he was dead； I said； 〃What the hell？〃 so I shot my foot。 It is now full of pus； though I have done it one year。'
'Yes；' I said。 'That's very interesting。 But my immediate concern is with Sebastian。 Perhaps you would tell