United States or Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !


Grasslough looked at the man he addressed as one does look when one expects an answer. Mr Lupton, with whom Grasslough was dining, also sat expectant. Dolly and Nidderdale were both silent. It was the fear of this that had kept Sir Felix away from the club. Grasslough, as he had told himself, was just the fellow to ask such a question, ill-natured, insolent, and obtrusive.

'Carbury, and Grasslough, and Dolly Longestaffe are there waiting, he said. But Paul declined. He was too full of his troubles for play. 'Poor Miles isn't there, if you're afraid of that, said Nidderdale. 'Miles Grendall wouldn't hinder me, said Montague. 'Nor me either. Of course it's a confounded shame. I know that as well as anybody.

Nobody knows as well as you do how awfully done up I am. I shall pull through at last, but it's an awful squeeze in the meantime. There's nobody I'd ask such a favour of except you. 'Well, you may have them; that is, for two days. I don't know whether that fellow of mine will believe you. He wouldn't believe Grasslough, and told him so. But Grasslough took them out of the stables.

Grasslough, also, was impecunious; but he had a father, also impecunious, indeed; but with them the matter would not be hopeless. Dolly Longestaffe was so tipsy that he could not even assist in making up his own account. That was to be left between him and Carbury for some future occasion. 'I suppose you'll be here to-morrow, that is to-night, said Miles.

Felix watched more closely, and was certain that in each round the man had an ace at least once. It seemed to him that nothing could be easier. At last he pleaded a headache, got up, and went away, leaving the others playing. He had lost nearly a thousand pounds, but it had been all in paper. 'There's something the matter with that fellow, said Grasslough.

'I don't make more row than anybody else; but I do say that as we have such a lot of these things, and as we all know that we don't get cash for them as we want it, Grendall shouldn't take money and walk off with it. 'Who is walking off? said Miles. 'And why should you be entitled to Montague's money more than any of us? asked Grasslough. The matter was debated, and was thus decided.

And Miles Grendall got back an I.O.U. of considerable nominal value from Lord Grasslough, who was anxious to accommodate two country cousins who were in London. Gradually the prices fell; not at first from any doubt in Melmotte, but through that customary reaction which may be expected on such occasions. But at eight or nine o'clock on the evening of the party the tickets were worth nothing.

'There's one comfort, you know, said Dolly. 'It wants two men to make a quarrel. 'Yes; it does, said Sir Felix, taking this as a friendly observation; 'and I'm not going to be fool enough to be one of them. 'Oh, yes, I meant it fast enough, said Grasslough afterwards up in the card-room.

Dolly of course had said that he knew nothing about it, and Lord Grasslough had expressed an opinion that perhaps more than one person ought to be turned out. At four o'clock the party was broken up and Sir Felix wandered forth into the streets, with nothing more than the change of a ten pound note in his pocket. All his luggage was lying in the hall of the club, and there he left it.

'Heard what? 'I believe he doesn't know! said Lord Grasslough. 'By Jove, Nidderdale, you're in a mess like some others. 'What's up now? 'Only fancy that they shouldn't have known down at the House! Vossner has bolted! 'Bolted! exclaimed Nidderdale, dropping the spoon with which he was just going to eat his soup. 'Bolted, repeated Grasslough.