United States or Cuba ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Eh, but ye're brawly dressed, my young man, with a disproving look; 'I'm hopin' they duds are paid for. 'Of course they are, replied Vandeloup, gaily, 'do you think I stole them? 'Weel, I'll no gae sa far as that, remarked Archie, cautiously; 'maybe ye have dwelt by the side o' mony waters, an' flourished. If he ken the Screepture ye'll see God helps those wha help themselves.
'It wasn't the landlord's fault, said Vandeloup; 'I gave Pierre money if I had known what he wanted it for I wouldn't have done it- -but it's too late now. McIntosh was about to answer sharply as to the folly of giving the man money, when Madame's voice was heard calling them impatiently, and they both had to go in at once.
Vandeloup recognised one as Barraclough, a well-known stockbroker, but the other was a dark, wiry-looking man of medium height, whom he had never seen before. 'I tell you it's a good thing, said Barraclough, vehemently laying his hand on the table; 'Tollerby is the manager, and knows everything about it.
Vandeloup would have refused, but she had his arm, and as everyone was looking at him, he could not refuse without being guilty of marked discourtesy. Kitty had beaten him with his own weapons, so, with a half-admiring glance at her, he took her back to the ball- room, where the waltz was just ending.
So Madame Midas had been near the truth, yet never discovered it, and sent a letter to Vandeloup asking him to come to dinner and meet an old friend, little thinking how old and intimate a friend Kitty was to the young man.
Vandeloup knew all about this sort of thing, for he had seen it occur over and over again in Ballarat and Melbourne. So many came to the web and never got out alive, yet fresh flies were always to be found.
M. Vandeloup's rooms in Clarendon Street, East Melbourne, were very luxuriously and artistically furnished, in perfect accordance with the taste of their owner, but as the satiated despot is depicted by the moralists as miserable amid all his splendour, so M. Gaston Vandeloup, though not exactly miserable, was very ill at ease.
Then saying goodbye to everyone, and telling M. Vandeloup to be out at the Pactolus before noon the next day, she gathered up the reins and drove slowly down the hill, much to the delight of Mr Villiers, who was getting tired of waiting. Kitty and Vandeloup strolled off in the moonlight, while Marchurst went back to the house.
'I really think he ought to go, said Madame, looking rather anxiously at Vandeloup, 'unless, M. Vandeloup, you do not want to part with him.
'Pardon me, observed Vandeloup, blandly, 'I do; we can talk afterwards if you like. Their eyes met, and then Kitty arose and took his arm, with a charming pout. It was no good fighting against the quiet, masterful manner of this man, so she allowed him to put his arm round her waist and swing her slowly into the centre of the room.
Word Of The Day