# XIV: Peculiar Conduct of a Personage explained — The Cream of the Jest > Chapter companion for The Cream of the Jest by James Branch Cabell. ## What happens Kennaston lunches with a famous personage and a group of notable men, feeling out of place among them. After the meal, the personage privately warns Kennaston about his book's references to the sigil of Scoteia, asks about white pigeons, and shows a small mirror, leaving Kennaston bewildered. He later examines the sigil fragment he found, pondering the mystery. ## Themes in this chapter ### Dream vs. Reality Kennaston contrasts his dreamer's nature with the practical men of action, feeling disconnected from their world. ### Disillusionment and Cynicism Kennaston finds the conversation of the great men platitudinous and reflects on the gap between his boyhood fantasies and the actual experience. ### The Power of Storytelling The personage's cryptic remarks about Kennaston's book and the sigil suggest the narrative's influence beyond the page. ## Character check-ins ### Felix Kennaston Attends a luncheon with a famous personage and other notable men, feels out of place, and is later mystified by the personage's cryptic remarks about the sigil and white pigeons. ### Horvendile Not directly present in this chapter. ### La Beale Ettarre Mentioned as holding the other half of the sigil. ## Key lines > Those portions of your book relating to the sigil of Scoteia struck me as being too explicit... Do you think it was quite wise? I seem to recall a phrase—about birds— The personage warns Kennaston that his book reveals too much about the sigil, hinting at a secret involving birds. _This cryptic warning puzzles Kennaston and connects to the sigil mystery._ > Yes, the hurt may well be twofold—I am presupposing that, as a country-gentleman, you have raised white pigeons, Mr. Kennaston? The personage asks if Kennaston keeps white pigeons, implying a hidden meaning or password. _The question about white pigeons is part of the personage's enigmatic behavior, linked to the sigil._ > If these had been less remarkable persons he would have thought their conversation almost platitudinous. And not one of these much-talked-about men, whatever else he might have done, could have written Men Who Loved Alison! Kennaston consoles himself that despite the guests' fame, none could have written his novel. _Reflects Kennaston's sense of superiority as a creator versus men of action._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cream_of_the_jest_se/chapters/xiv-peculiar-conduct-of-a-personage - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cream_of_the_jest_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cream_of_the_jest_se/chapters