V

“Not at all. To get my effect, I am inventing, as my central character, a novelist, and the subject of my book will be the struggle between what reality offers him and what he tries to make of the offer.” “Have you planned out this book?” asked Sophroniska, trying to keep grave. “Of course not.” “Why ‘of course’?” “For a book of this type any plan would be unsuitable. The whole of it would go wrong if I decided any detail ahead. I am waiting for reality to dictate to me.” “But I thought you wanted to get away from reality.” “My novelist wants to get away, but I keep pulling him back. To tell the truth, this is my subject: the struggle between facts as proposed by reality, and the ideal reality.” “Do tell us the name of this book,” said Laura, in despair. “Very well. Tell it them, Bernard.” “ Les Faux Monnayeurs ” said Bernard. “And now will you please tell us who these faux monnayeurs are.” “I haven’t the least idea.” Bernard and Laura looked at each other and then at Sophroniska. There was the sound of a deep sigh. The fact was that ideas about money, depreciation, inflation, forgery, etc. , had gradually invaded Edouard’s