So they wandered about the old Italian cities, until he discovered that the one thing essential to his work was the gaiety of cosmopolitan society; whereupon they went the round of French watering-places, where Adrian played recklessly at baccarat and spent inordinate sums on food.

And all the time Doria wrote glowingly of their doings.

Adrian had put the book out of his head, was always in the best of spirits.

He had completely recovered from the strain of work and was looking forward joyously to the final spurt in London and the achievement of the masterpiece.
Meanwhile we played the annual comedy of our August migration; the only change being that instead of Dinard we went to the West Coast of Scotland to stay with some of Barbara's relatives.

One gleam of joy irradiated that grey and dismal sojourn--the news that Jaffery, his mission in Crim Tartary being accomplished, would be home for Christmas.
Our host and hostess were sporting folk with red, weatherbeaten faces and a mania (which they expected us to share) for salmon-fishing in the pouring rain.