The　Lion　and　the　Unicorn
  by　Richard　Harding　Davis
  IN　MEMORY　OF　MANY　HOT　DAYS　AND　SOME　HOT　CORNERS
  THIS　BOOK　IS　DEDICATED　TO
  LT。…COL。　ARTHUR　H。　LEE；　R。A。
  British　Military　Attache　with　the　United　States　Army
  Contents
  THE　LION　AND　THE　UNICORN
  ON　THE　FEVER　SHIP
  THE　MAN　WITH　ONE　TALENT
  THE　VAGRANT
  THE　LAST　RIDE　TOGETHER
  THE　LION　AND　THE　UNICORN
  Prentiss　had　a　long　lease　on　the　house；　and　because　it　stood　in
  Jermyn　Street　the　upper　floors　were；　as　a　matter　of　course；
  turned　into　lodgings　for　single　gentlemen；　and　because　Prentiss
  was　a　Florist　to　the　Queen；　he　placed　a　lion　and　unicorn　over　his
  flowershop；　just　in　front　of　the　middle　window　on　the　first
  floor。　　By　stretching　a　little；　each　of　them　could　see　into　the
  window　just　beyond　him；　and　could　hear　all　that　was　said　inside；
  and　such　things　as　they　saw　and　heard　during　the　reign　of　Captain
  Carrington；　who　moved　in　at　the　same　time　they　did！　　By　day　the
  table　in　the　centre　of　the　room　was　covered　with　maps；　and　the
  Captain　sat　with　a　box　of　pins；　with　different…colored　flags
  wrapped　around　them；　and　amused　himself　by　sticking　them　in　the
  maps　and　measuring　the　spaces　in　between；　swearing　meanwhile　to
  himself。　　It　was　a　selfish　amusement；　but　it　appeared　to　be　the
  Captain's　only　intellectual　pursuit；　for　at　night；　the　maps　were
  rolled　up；　and　a　green　cloth　was　spread　across　the　table；　and
  there　was　much　company　and　popping　of　soda…bottles；　and　little
  heaps　of　gold　and　silver　were　moved　this　way　and　that　across　the
  cloth。　　The　smoke　drifted　out　of　the　open　windows；　and　the
  laughter　of　the　Captain's　guests　rang　out　loudly　in　the　empty
  street；　so　that　the　policeman　halted　and　raised　his　eyes
  reprovingly　to　the　lighted　windows；　and　cabmen　drew　up　beneath
  them　and　lay　in　wait；　dozing　on　their　folded　arms；　for　the
  Captain's　guests　to　depart。　　The　Lion　and　the　Unicorn　were　rather
  ashamed　of　the　scandal　of　it；　and　they　were　glad　when；　one　day；
  the　Captain　went　away　with　his　tin　boxes　and　gun…cases　piled　high
  on　a　four…wheeler。
  Prentiss　stood　on　the　sidewalk　and　said：　　〃I　wish　you　good　luck；
  sir。〃　　And　the　Captain　said：　　〃I'm　coming　back　a　Major；
  Prentiss。〃　　But　he　never　came　back。　　And　one　daythe　Lion
  remembered　the　day　very　well；　for　on　that　same　day　the
  newsboys　ran　up　and　down　Jermyn　Street　shouting　out　the　news　of
  〃a　'orrible　disaster〃　to　the　British　arms。　　It　was　then　that　a
  young　lady　came　to　the　door　in　a　hansom；　and　Prentiss　went　out　to
  meet　her　and　led　her　upstairs。　　They　heard　him　unlock　the
  Captain's　door　and　say；　〃This　is　his　room；　miss；〃　and　after　he
  had　gone　they　watched　her　standing　quite　still　by　the　centre
  table。　　She　stood　there　for　a　very　long　time　looking　slowly　about
  her；　and　then　she　took　a　photograph　of　the　Captain　from　the　frame
  on　the　mantel　and　slipped　it　into　her　pocket；　and　when　she　went
  out　again　her　veil　was　down；　and　she　was　crying。　　She　must　have
  given　Prentiss　as　much　as　a　sovereign；　for　he　called　her　〃Your
  ladyship；〃　which　he　never　did　under　a　sovereign。
  And　she　drove　off；　and　they　never　saw　her　again　either；　nor　could
  they　hear　the　address　she　gave　the　cabman。　　But　it　was　somewhere
  up　St。　John's　Wood　way。
  After　that　the　rooms　were　empty　for　some　months；　and　the　Lion　and
  the　Unicorn　were　forced　to　amuse　themselves　with　the　beautiful
  ladies　and　smart…looking　men　who　came　to　Prentiss　to　buy
  flowers　and　〃buttonholes；〃　and　the　little　round　baskets　of
  strawberries；　and　even　the　peaches　at　three　shillings　each；　which
  looked　so　tempting　as　they　lay　in　the　window；　wrapped　up　in
  cotton…wool；　like　jewels　of　great　price。
  Then　Philip　Carroll；　the　American　gentleman；　came；　and　they　heard
  Prentiss　telling　him　that　those　rooms　had　always　let　for　five
  guineas　a　week；　which　they　knew　was　not　true；　but　they　also　knew
  that　in　the　economy　of　nations　there　must　always　be　a　higher
  price　for　the　rich　American；　or　else　why　was　he　given　that
  strange　accent；　except　to　betray　him　into　the　hands　of　the　London
  shopkeeper；　and　the　London　cabby？
  The　American　walked　to　the　window　toward　the　west；　which　was　the
  window　nearest　the　Lion；　and　looked　out　into　the　graveyard　of　St。
  James's　Church；　that　stretched　between　their　street　and
  Piccadilly。
  〃You're　lucky　in　having　a　bit　of　green　to　look　out　on；〃　he　said
  to　Prentiss。　　〃I'll　take　these　roomsat　five　guineas。　　That's
  more　than　they're　worth；　you　know；　but　as　I　know　it；　too；　your
  conscience　needn't　trouble　you。〃
  Then　his　eyes　fell　on　the　Lion；　and　he　nodded　to　him　gravely。
  〃How　do　you　do？〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　coming　to　live　with　you　for　a
  little　time。　　I　have　read　about　you　and　your　friends　over　there。
  It　is　a　hazard　of　new　fortunes　with　me；　your　Majesty；　so　be　kind
  to　me；　and　if　I　win；　I　will　put　a　new　coat　of　paint　on　your
  shield　and　gild　you　all　over　again。〃
  Prentiss　smiled　obsequiously　at　the　American's　pleasantry；　but
  the　new　lodger　only　stared　at　him。
  〃He　seemed　a　social　gentleman；〃　said　the　Unicorn；　that　night；
  when　the　Lion　and　he　were　talking　it　over。　　〃Now　the　Captain；　the
  whole　time　he　was　here；　never　gave　us　so　much　as　a　look。　　This
  one　says　he　has　read　of　us。〃
  〃And　why　not？〃　growled　the　Lion。　　〃I　hope　Prentiss　heard　what　he
  said　of　our　needing　a　new　layer　of　gilt。　　It's　disgraceful。　　You
  can　see　that　Lion　over　Scarlett's；　the　butcher；　as　far　as　Regent
  Street；　and　Scarlett　is　only　one　of　Salisbury's　creations。　　He
  received　his　Letters…Patent　only　two　years　back。　　We　date　from
  Palmerston。〃
  The　lodger　came　up　the　street　just　at　that　moment；　and　stopped
  and　looked　up　at　the　Lion　and　the　Unicorn　from　the　sidewalk；
  before　he　opened　the　door　with　his　night…key。　　They　heard　him
  enter　the　room　and　feel　on　the　mantel　for　his　pipe；　and　a　moment
  later　he　appeared　at　the　Lion's　window　and　leaned　on　the　sill；
  looking　down　into　the　street　below　and　blowing　whiffs　of　smoke　up
  into　the　warm　night…air。
  It　was　a　night　in　June；　and　the　pavements　were　dry　under　foot　and
  the　streets　were　filled　with　well…dressed　people；　going　home　from
  the　play；　and　with　groups　of　men　in　black　and　white；　making　their
  way　to　supper　at　the　clubs。　　Hansoms　of　inky…black；　with　shining
  lamps　inside　and　out；　dashed　noiselessly　past　on　mysterious
  errands；　chasing　close　on　each　other's　heels　on　a　mad　race；　each
  to　its　separate　goal。　　From　the　cross　streets　rose　the　noises　of
  early　night；　the　rumble　of　the　'buses；　the　creaking　of　their
  brakes；　as　they　unlocked；　the　cries　of　the　〃extras；〃　and　the
  merging　of　thousands　of　human　voices　in　a　dull　murmur。　　The　great
  world　of　London　was　closing　its　shutters　for　the　night；　and
  putting　out　the　lights；　and　the　new　lodger　from　across　the　sea
  listened　to　it　with　his　heart　beating　quickly；　and　laughed　to
  stifle　the　touch　of　fear　and　homesickness　that　rose　in　him。
  〃I　have　seen　a　great　play　to…night；〃　he　said　to　the　Lion；　〃nobly
  played　by　great　players。　　What　will　they　care　for　my　poor　wares？
  I　see　that　I　have　been　over…bold。　　But　we　cannot　go　back　nownot
  yet。〃
  He　knocked　the　ashes　out　of　his　pipe；　and　nodded　〃good…night〃　to
  the　great　world　beyond　his　window。　　〃What　fortunes　lie　with　ye；
  ye　lights　of　London　town？〃　he　quoted；　smiling。　　And　they　heard
  him　close　the　door　of　his　bedroom；　and　lock　it　for　the　night。
  The　next　morning　he　bought　many　geraniums　from　Prentiss　and
  placed　them　along　the　broad　cornice　that　stretched　across　the
  front　of　the　house　over　the　shop　window。　　The　flowers　made　a　band
  of　scarlet　on　either　side　of　the　Lion　as　brilliant　as　a　Tommy's
  jacket。
  〃I　am　trying　to　propitiate　the　British　Lion　by　placing　flowers
  before　his　altar；〃　the　American　said　that　morning　to　a
  visitor。
  〃The　British　public　you　mean；〃　said　the　visitor；　〃they　are　each
  likely　to　tear　you　to　pieces。〃
  〃Yes；　I　have　heard　that　the　pit　on　the　first　night　of　a　bad　play
  is　something　awful；〃　hazarded　the　American。
  〃Wait　and　see；〃　said　the　visitor。
  〃Thank　you；〃　said　the　American；　meekly。
  Every　one　who　came　to　the　first　floor　front　talked　about　a　play。
  It　seemed　to　be　something　of　great　moment　to　the　American。　　It
  was　only　a　bundle　of　leaves　printed　in　red　and　black　inks　and
  bound　in　brown　paper　covers。　　There　were　two　of　them；　and　the
  American　called　them　by　different　names：　one　was　his　comedy　and
  one　was　his　tragedy。
  〃They　are　both　likely　to　be　tragedies；〃　the　Lion　heard　one　of　the
  visitors　say　to　another；　as　they　drove　away　together。　　〃Our　young
  friend　takes　it　too　seriously。〃
  The　American　spent　most　of　his　time　by　his　desk　at　the　window
  writing　on　little　blue　pads　and　tearing　up　what　he　wrote；　or　in
  reading　over　one　of　the　plays　to　himself　in　a　loud　voice。　　In
  time　the　number　of　his　visitors　increased；　and　to　some　of　these
  he　would　read　his　play；　and　after　they　had　left　him　he　was
  either　depressed　and　silent　or　excited　and　jubilant。　　The　Lion
  could　always　tell　when　he　was　happy　because　then　he　would　go　to
  the　side　table　and　pour　himself　out　a　drink　and　say；　〃Here's　to
  me；〃　but　when　he　was　depressed　he　would　stand　holding　the　glass
  in　his　hand；　and　finally　pour　the　liquor　back　into　the　bottle
  again　and　say；　〃What's　the　use　of　that？〃
  After　he　had　been　in　London　a　month　he　wrote　less　and　was　more
  frequently　abroad；　sallying　fort