THE SCHOOL OF THE RECRUIT When Portlaw arrived home late that evening there existed within his somewhat ordinary intellect a sense of triumph.

The weak usually experience it at the beginning and through every step of their own subjugation.
Malcourt, having decided to take an express which stopped on signal at six in the morning, was reading as usual before the empty fireplace; and at the first glance he suspected what had begun to happen to Portlaw.
The latter bustled about the room with an air of more or less importance, sorted his letters, fussed with a newspaper; and every now and then Malcourt, glancing up, caught Portlaw's eyes peeping triumphantly around corners at him.
"You've been riding ?" he said, much amused.

"Are you stiff ?" "A trifle," replied the other carelessly.

"I must keep it up.

Really, you know, I've rather neglected the horses lately." "Rather.