`They don't? They do me. What's the start?'

`I'll show you what I can, if you like,' said Birkin.

`You will?' A queer, smiling look tightened Gerald's face for a moment, as he said, `Well, I'd like it very much.'

`Then we'll try jiu-jitsu. Only you can't do much in a starched shirt.'

`Then let us strip, and do it properly. Hold a minute --' He rang the bell, and waited for the butler.

`Bring a couple of sandwiches and a syphon,' he said to the man, `and then don't trouble me any more tonight -- or let anybody else.'

The man went. Gerald turned to Birkin with his eyes lighted.

`And you used to wrestle with a Jap?' he said. `Did you strip?'

`Sometimes.'

`You did! What was he like then, as a wrestler?'

`Good, I believe. I am no judge. He was very quick and slippery and full of electric fire. It is a remarkable thing, what a curious sort of fluid force they seem to have in them, those people not like a human grip -- like a polyp --'

Gerald nodded.

`I should imagine so,' he said, `to look at them. They repel me, rather.'

`Repel and attract, both. They are very repulsive when they are cold, and they look grey. But when they are hot and roused, there is a definite attraction -- a curious kind of full electric fluid -- like eels.'

`Well -- yes -- probably.'

The man brought in the tray and set it down.

`Don't come in any more,' said Gerald.

The door closed.

`Well then,' said Gerald; `shall we strip and begin? Will you have a drink first?'

`No, I don't want one.'

`Neither do I.'

Gerald fastened the door and pushed the furniture aside. The room was large, there was plenty of space, it was thickly carpeted. Then he quickly threw off his clothes, and waited for Birkin. The latter, white and thin, came over to him. Birkin was more a presence than a visible object, Gerald was aware of him completely, but not really visually. Whereas Gerald himself was concrete and noticeable, a piece of pure final substance.

`Now,' said Birkin, `I will show you what I learned, and what I remember. You let me take you so --' And his hands closed on the naked body of the other man. In another moment, he had Gerald swung over lightly and balanced against his knee, head downwards. Relaxed, Gerald sprang to his feet with eyes glittering.