I
THE assurance of Tanis Judique's friendship fortified Babbitt's
self-approval. At the Athletic Club he became experimental.
Though Vergil Gunch was silent, the others at the
Roughnecks' Table came to accept Babbitt as having, for no
visible reason, "turned crank.'' They argued windily with
him, and he was cocky, and enjoyed the spectacle of his interesting
martyrdom. He even praised Seneca Doane. Professor
Pumphrey said that was carrying a joke too far; but
Babbitt argued, "No! Fact! I tell you he's got one of the
keenest intellects in the country. Why, Lord Wycombe said
that—''
"Oh, who the hell is Lord Wycombe? What you always
lugging him in for? You been touting him for the last six
weeks!'' protested Orville Jones.
"George ordered him from Sears-Roebuck. You can get
those English high-muckamucks by mail for two bucks apiece,''
suggested Sidney Finkelstein.
"That's all right now! Lord Wycombe, he's one of the
biggest intellects in English political life. As I was saying:
Of course I'm conservative myself, but I appreciate a guy like
Senny Doane because—''
Vergil Gunch interrupted harshly, "I wonder if you are so
conservative? I find I can manage to run my own business
without any skunks and reds like Doane in it!''
The grimness of Gunch's voice, the hardness of his jaw,
disconcerted Babbitt, but he recovered and went on till they
looked bored, then irritated, then as doubtful as Gunch.
