 Part 1, Chapter 5 of Madame Midas This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Madame Midas by Fergus Hume. Part 1, Chapter 5. Memons Treasure House At the foot of the huge mound of White Melok, which marked the site at the Pactulus mine, was a long zinc-roofed building, which was divided into two compartments. In one of these, the miners left their clothes and put on rough canvas suits before going down, and here also they were searched on coming up in order to see if they had carried away any gold. From this room a long, narrow passage led to the top of the shaft so that any miner having gold concealed upon him could not throw it away and pick it up afterwards, but had to go right into the searching room from the cage and could not possibly hide a particle without being found out by the searches. The other room was the sleeping apartment of such miners as stayed on the premises for the majority of the men went home to their families when their work was done. There were three shifts of men on the Pactulus during the twenty-four hours, and each shift worked eight hours at a time, the first going on at midnight and knocking off at eight in the morning, the second commencing at eight and ending at four in the afternoon, and the third starting at four and lasting until midnight again, when the first shift of men began anew. Consequently, when Monsour Vanderloop awoke next morning at six o'clock, the first shift were not yet up, and some of the miners who had to go on at eight were sleeping heavily in their beds. The sleeping places were berths, ranging along two sides of the room and divided into upper and lower compartments, like those on a shipboard. Gaston, having roused himself naturally, wanted to see where he was, so rubbing his eyes and yawning, he leaned on his elbow and took a leisurely survey of his position. He saw a rather large room lighted at regular intervals by three square windows, and as these were uncurtained, the cold, searching light of daybreak was slowly stealing through them into the apartment, and all the dusky objects therein were gradually revealing themselves in the still light. He could hear the heavy, monotonous breathing of the men, and the restless turning and tossing of those who could not sleep. Gaston yawned once or twice, then feeling disinclined for any more sleep, he softly put on his clothes so as not to awake Pierre, who slept in the berth below, and descending from his sleeping place groped his way to the door and went out into the cool, fragrant morning. There was a chill wind blowing from the bush, bringing with it a faint aromatic odour, and on glancing downwards he saw that the grass was wet with dew. The dawn was burning redly in the east, and the vivid crimson of the sky put him in mind of that sunset under which he had landed with his companion on the Queensland coast. Suddenly a broad shaft of yellow light broke into the pale pink of the sky, and with the burst of splendour the sun rose slowly into sight from behind the dark bush, and all the delicate workings of the dawn disappeared in the flood of golden light, which poured over the landscape. Vanderloop looked idly at all this beauty, with an unobserved eye, then too much occupied with his thoughts to take notice of anything, and it was only when two magpies near him broke into a joyous duet in which each strove to emulate the other's mellow notes that he awoke from his brown study and begun to walk back again to the mine. I must let nothing stand in my way to acquire money, he said musingly. With it one can rule the world. Without it, but how trite and bald these well-worn maxim seem. Why do I repeat them, parrot-like, when I see what I have to do so clearly before me? That woman, for instance, I must begin by making her my friend. Bah! She is that already. I saw it in her eyes, which she can't control as she does her face. Yes, I must make her my friend, my very dear friend, and then, well, to my mind, the well pivot is a woman. I will spare no one in order to attain my ends. I will make myself my own God, and consider no one but myself, and those who stand in my path must get out of it or run the chants of being crushed. This, with a cynical smile, is what some would call the devil's philosophy. At all events it is good enough for me. He was near the mine by this time, and hearing someone calling to him, he looked up and saw Macintosh walking towards him. There was a stir in the men's quarters now, and he could see the door was open, and several figures were moving briskly about, while a number of others were crossing the fields. The regular beat of the machinery still continued, and the smoke was pouring out thick and black from the tall red chimney. While the wheels were spinning round in the poppet heads, as the mine slowly disgorged the men who had been working all night, Macintosh came slowly along with his hands in his pockets, and a puzzled look on his severe face. He could not make up his mind whether to like or dislike this young man, but a modest had seemed so impressed that he had half made up his mind to dislike him out of the spirit of contradiction. We men are so easy-pleased, pure, feckless bodies, he said to himself. A bonny face is so fresh their heads a boot, though the same may be already in the grip of old Nicky Ben. Well, well, if Madam does fancy the land, and he's not bad looking, I'll say that she may just have her own way, and I'll keep my eye on both. He looked grimly at the young man as he came briskly forward with a gay smile. You're a very early bird, he said, fondling his thrill of white hair, and looking keenly at the tall slim figure of the Frenchman. Case of must, my friend, return Vandaloupe Cooley, it's only rich men can afford to be in bed, not poor devils like me. You're no muck like either folk, said the suspicious old Scotchman, with a condemnatory sniff. At that I am glad retorted Vandaloupe with Swabiti, as he walked beside him to the men's quarters. What a horrible thing to be the duplicate of half a dozen other men, by the way, breaking off into a new subject. Madame Midas is charming. Aye, aye, said Archie, jealously. We can all about they French-fangled way have given pretty words, and deal a swapper truth in any of them. Gaston was about to protest that he said no more than he felt, which was indeed the truth. But Archie impatiently hurried him off to breakfast at the office, as he declared himself famishing. They made a hearty meal, and, having had a smoke and a talk, prepared to go below. First of all, they arrayed themselves in underground garments, not grave clothes, though the name is certainly suggestive of the cemetery, which consisted of canvas trousers, heavy boots, blue blouses of ruffle and material, and a southwest to reach. Thus a countred they went along to the foot of the poppet heads, and Archie, having opened a door therein, Vandaloupe saw the mouth of the shaft, yawning dark and gloomy at his feet. As he stood there gazing at the black hole, which seemed to pierce down into the entrails of the earth, he turned round to take one last look at the sun, before descending to the netherworld. This is quite a new experience to me, he said, as they stepped into the wet iron cage, which had ascended to receive them in answer to Archie's signal, and now commenced to drop down silently and swiftly into the pitchy darkness. It puts me in mind of Jules Verne's romances. Archie did not reply, for he was too much occupied in lighting his candle to answer, and, moreover, knew nothing about romances and cared still less. So they went on sliding down noiselessly into the gloom, while the water, falling from all parts of the shaft, kept splashing constantly on the top of the cage and running in little streams over their shoulders. It's like a nightmare, thought the Frenchman, with a nervous shutter, as he saw the wet walls gleaming in the faint light of the candle, worthy of Dante's Inferno. At last they reached the ground and found themselves in the main chamber, from whence the galleries branched off to east and west. It was upheld on all sides by heavy wooden supports of blue gum and stringy bark, the scarred surfaces of which made them look like the hieroglyphic pillars in old Egyptian temples. The walls were dripping with damp, and the floor of the chamber, covered with iron plates, was nearly an inch deep with yellow-looking water, discoloured by the clay of the mine. Two miners, in rough canvas clothes, were waiting there, and every now and then a trolley laden with wash would roll suddenly out of one of the galleries with a candle fastened in front of it, and would be pushed into the cage and sent up to the puddlers. Round the walls, candles fastened to spikes, were stuck into the woodwork, and in the yellow glimmer the great drops of water clinging to the roof and sides of the chamber shone like diamonds. A laden's garden observed Vandalouf Gailey, as he lighted his candle at that of Archie's, and went towards the eastern gallery. Only the jewels are not substantial enough. Archie showed the Frenchman how to carry his candle in the miners' manner, so that it could not go out, which consisted in holding it low down between the forefinger and third finger, so that the hollow palm at the hand formed a kind of shield. And then Vandalouf, hearing the sound of falling water close to him, asked what it was, whereupon Archie explained it was for ventilating purposes. The water fell the whole height of the mine through a pipe into a bucket, and a few feet above this another pipe was joined at right angles to the first and stretched along the gallery near the roof, like a never-ending serpent right to the end of the drive. The air was driven along this by the water, and then, being released from the pipe, returned back through the gallery, so that there was a constant current circulating all through the mine. As they groped their way slowly along, their feet splashed into pools of yellow clay water at the sides of the drive, or stumbled over the rough ground and rugged rails laid down for the trolleys. All along the gallery, at regular intervals, were posts of stringy bark in a vertical position, while beams of the same were laid horizontally across the top, but so low that Vandalouf had to stoop constantly to prevent himself knocking his head against their irregular projections. Looking to these side posts were masses of white fungus, which the miners used to remove discolorations from their hands, and from the roof also at hung, like great drifts of snow, agitated with every breath of wind as the keen air damped and chilled by the underground darkness rushed past them. Every now and then they would hear a faint rumble in the distance, and Archie would drag his companion to one side, while a trolley laden with white, wet-looking wash and impaled firerunner would roll past with the roaring and grinding of wheels. At intervals on each side of the main drive black chasms appeared, which Archie informed his companion, where drives put in to test the wash, and as these smaller galleries continued branching off, Vandalouf thought the whole mine resembled nothing so much as a herringbone. Being accustomed to the darkness and knowing every inch of the way, the manager moved forward rapidly, and sometimes Vandalouf laid so far behind that all he could see at his guide was the candle he carried, shining like a pale yellow star in the pitchy darkness. At last Macintosh went in to one of the side galleries and going up an iron ladder fixed to the side of the wall, they came to a second gallery thirty feet above the other and branching off at right angles. This was where the wash was to be found, for as Archie informed Vandalouf the main drives of the mine were always put down thirty or forty feet below the wash, and then they could work up to the higher levels. The reason of this being that the leads had a downward tendency, and it was necessary for the main drive to be sunk below, as before mentioned, in order to get the proper levels and judge the gutters correctly. At the top of the ladder they found some empty trucks which had delivered their burden into a kind of chute through which it fell to the lower level, and there another truck was waiting to take it to the main shaft from whence it went up to the puddlers. Archie made Vandalouf get into one of these trucks and though they were all wet and covered with clay he was glad to do so, and be smoothly carried along instead of stumbling over the rails and splashing among the pools of water. Every now and then as they went along there would be a gush of water from the dripping walls which was taken along in pipes to the main chamber and from thence pumped out of the mine by a powerful pump, worked by a beam engine by which means the mine was kept dry. At last, after they had gone some considerable distance they saw the dim light of the candle and heard the dull blows of the pick then found themselves at the end of the drive where a miner was working at the wash. The wash wherein the gold is found was exceedingly well defined and represented a stratified appearance being sandwiched in between a bed of white pipe clay and a top layer of brownish earth interspersed with gravel. Every blow of the pick sent forth showers of sparks in all directions and as fast as the wash was broken down the runner filled up the trolleys with it. After asking the miner about the character of the wash and testing some himself in a shovel Archie left the gallery and going back to the chute they descended again to the main drive and visited several other faces of wash the journey in each instance being exactly the same in all respects. Each face had a man working at it sometimes too and a runner who loaded the trucks and ran them along to the chutes. In spite of the ventilation Vanderloop felt as if he was in a Turkish bath and the heat was in some places very great. At the end of one of the drives Macintosh called Vanderloop and on going towards him the young man found him seated on a truck with the plan of the mine before him as he wanted to show him all the ramifications of the workings. The plan looked more like a map of the city than anything else with the main drive doing duty as the principal street and all the little galleries branching off in endless confusion looked like the lanes and alleys of a populous town. It's like the catacombs in Rome said Vanderloop to Macintosh after he had contemplated the plan for some time one could easily get lost here he marched returned Macintosh cautiously if he didn't keen about the lie of the mine all yonder putting one finger on the plan and pointing with the other to the right of the tunnel we found a twenty ounce nugget yesterday and an a four that O-25 and in the first place we were a two months ago over there pointing to the left there was a big and I can't the Villiers nugget which as you can is madam's name oh yes I know that said Vanderloop much interested do you christen all your nuggets if they're big enough replied Archie then I hope you will find a hundred ounce lump of gold and call it the Vanderloop return the young man laughing there's money a true word spoken just lady said Archie gravely when we get to the deal's lead we may find and owe that size what do you mean by leads ask Vanderloop considerably puzzled there upon Archie opened his mouth and gave the young man a scientific lecture on mining the picture of which was as follows did you know King said Mr McIntosh sagacious sleep in the old days I want to say but what it might be as far back as the far old man maybe a wee bit farther the reins washed and the gold fra the taps of the hills where the quartz roots were down to the valleys below where the river you kin were flowing and as the ages went on and nature under the guidance of the almighty to form to work the river bed with at its goal would be covered all with another formation and then the river or another year would flow on a new bed and the precious metal would be washed the hills in the same way as I told you and the second river bed would also cover all and so the same game went on and is still progressing so when the first miners came down to this land of my father the gold they got by scratching the tap of the earth was the latest deposit and when you go down a few hundred feet you come on the second river or rather I should say the bed of the former river and it is there that the gold is to be found and these dried up rivers wick our leads no already you are keen that a present we are in the bed and when these old streams three hundred feet further tap of the earth and it's here we get the gold and as we go on we follow the wanderings of the river and lose sight of it yes said Vanderloop quickly but you lost this river you called the devil's lead how was that well said Mr Macintosh deliberately rivers are very like human beings in the queer twists they take and the deal's lead seems to have been and like that at present we are on the banks of it where we know get these nuggets but it's the bed I wanted to keep the centre for it's there the gold is lost man he went on excitedly rising to his feet and rolling up the plan you din a kin how rich the deal's land is there's just a fortune in it I suppose these rivers must stop at a certain depth oh yeah return the old Scotchman we've gone down and down till we come on what we may call the primary rock and under that there is nothing except the touch of religious enthusiasm maybe tis the bottomless pit where old horny dwells as we are told in the scripture nor let us go up again and I'll show you the puddlers at walk Vanderloop had not the least idea what the puddlers were but desirous of learning he followed his guide who led him into another gallery which formed a kind of loop and joined again with the main drive as Gaston stumbled along he felt a touch on his shoulder and on turning saw it was Pierre who had been put to work with the other men and was acting as one of the runners ah you are there my friend said Vanderloop Cooley looking at the uncouth figure before him by the feeble glimmer of his candle work away work away it's not very pleasant but at all events in a rapid whisper it's better than new Caledonia Pierre nodded in a sullen manner and went back to his work while Vanderloop hurried on to catch up to Macintosh who is now far ahead I wish said this pleasant young man to himself as he stumbled along I wish that the mind would fall in and crush Pierre he's such a dead weight to be hanging round my neck besides he has such a jail bird look about him that it's enough to make the police find out where he came from if they do goodbye to wealth and respectability he found Archie waiting for him at the entrance to the main drive and they soon arrived at the bottom of the shaft got into the cage and at last reached the top of the earth again Vanderloop drew a long breath at the fresh pure air but his eyes felt quite painful in the vivid glare at the sun I don't envy the gnomes he said gaily to Archie as they went on to the puddlers they must have been subject to chronic rheumatism Mr Macintosh not having an acquaintance with fairy law said nothing in reply but took Vanderloop to the puddlers and showed all the process of getting the gold the wash was carried along in the trucks from the top of the shaft to the puddlers which were large circular vats into which water was constantly gushing the wash dirt being put into these there was an iron ring held up by chains having blunt spikes to it which was called a harrow two of these being attached to beams laid crosswise were dragged round and round among the wash by the constant revolution of the cross pieces this soon reduced all the wash dirt to a kind of fine creamy looking syrup with heavy white stones in it which were removed every now and then by the man in charge of the machine descending to the second story of the framework Vanderloop found himself in a square chamber the roof of which was the puddler in this roof was the trap door and when the wash dirt had been sufficiently mixed the trap door was opened and it was precipitated through on to the floor of the second chamber a kind of broad trough running in a slanting direction and called a slouse was on one side and into this a quantity of wash was put and a tap at the top turned on which caused the water to wash the dirt down the slouse another man at the foot with a pitchfork kept shifting up the stones which were mixed up with the gravel and by degrees all the surplus dirt was washed away leaving only these stones and a kind of fine black sand in which the gold being heavy had stayed this sand was carefully gathered up with a brush an iron trough into a shallow tin basin and then an experienced miner carefully manipulated the same with clear water while with blowing with the breath and allowing the water to flow gently over it all the black sand was soon taken away and the bottom of the tin dish was then covered with dirty yellow grains of gold interspersed with little water born nuggets Archie took the gold and carried it down to the office where it was first weighed and then put into a little canvas bag which would be taken to the bank in Bella Rat and there sold at the rate of four pounds an ounce or thereabouts So this shekin said Archie when he had finished all his explanations is the way you get gold My fate said Vandaloop carelessly with a merry laugh gold is as hard to get in its natural state as in its artificial and harder retorted Archie fall by their no sick wicked work abooted Madam will be rich someday remark Vandaloop as they left the office and walked up towards the house Maybe she will replied the other cautiously Australia's a grand place for the Silya Yikin I'm no very far wrong but what with industry and perseverance you may make a wee bit Silya yourself laddie it won't be my fault if I don't return Monsour Vandaloop gaily and Madam Midas he added mentally will be an excellent person to assist me in doing so End of Part 1 Chapter 5 Part 1 Chapter 6 of Madam Midas This Libra box recording is in the public domain Madam Midas by Fergus Hume Part 1 Chapter 6 Kitty Gaston Vandaloop having passed all his life in cities found that his existence on the pactulus claim was likely to be very dreary day after day he arose in the morning Diddy's office work ate his meals and after a talk with Madam Midas in the evening went to bed at ten o'clock such Arcadian simplicity as this was not likely to suit the highly cultivated tastes he had acquired in his earlier life As to the episode of New Caledonia Monsour Vandaloop dismissed it completely from his mind for this young man never permitted his thoughts to dwell on disagreeable subjects His experiences as a convict had been novel but not pleasant and he looked upon the time which had elapsed since he left France in the convict ship to the day he landed on the coast of Queensland in an open boat as a bad nightmare and would willingly have tried to treat it as such only the constant sight of his dumb companion Pierre Lemaire reminded him only too vividly of the reality of his trouble Often and often Diddy wished that Pierre would break his neck or that the mind would fall in and crush him to death but nothing of the sort happened and Pierre continued to vex his eyes and to follow him about with a dull glade fidelity which arose from any love of the young man but from the fact that he found himself a stranger in a strange land and Vandaloop was the only person he knew With such a millstone round his neck the young Frenchman often disbared at being able to get on in Australia Meanwhile he surrendered himself to the situation with a kind of cynical resignation and looked hopefully forward to the time when a kind providence would rid him of his unpleasant friend The feelings of Madame Midas towards Vandaloop were curious She had been a very impressionable girl and her ill-fated union with Villiers had not quite succeeded in deadening all her feelings though it had doubtless gone a good way towards doing so Being of an appreciated nature she liked to hear Vandaloop talk of his brilliant life in Paris, Vienna, London and other famous cities which to her were merely names For such a young man he had certainly seen a great deal of life and added to this his skill as a talker was considerable so that he frequently held Madame Selina and Macintosh spellbound by his very life descriptions an eloquent conversation Of course he only talked of the most general subjects to Mrs Villiers and never by any chance let slip that he knew the seamy side of life a side with which this versatile young gentleman was pretty well acquainted As a worker Gaston was decidedly a success Being quick at figures and easily taught anything he soon mastered all the details of the business connected with the pactulus claim and Madame found that she could leave everything to him with perfect safety and could rely on all matters of business being well and promptly attended to but she was too clever a woman to let him manage things himself or even know how much she trusted him and Vanderloop knew that whatever he did those calm dark eyes were on him and that the least slip or neglect on his part would bring Madame Midas to his side with her quiet voice and inflexible will to put him right again Consequently the Frenchman was careful not to digress or to take too much upon himself but did his work promptly and carefully and soon became quite indispensable to the work of the mine In addition to this he had made himself very popular with the men and as the months rolled on was looked upon quite as a fixture in the pactulus claim As for Pierre Lumière he did his work well, ate and slept and kept his eye on his companion in case he should leave him in the lurch but no one would have guessed that the two men so different in appearance were bound together by a guilty secret or were morally speaking both on the same level as convicts from the French prison A whole month had elapsed since Madame had engaged Montseuille Vanderloop and his friend but as yet the devil's lead had not been found Madame however was strong in her belief that it would soon be discovered that her luck, the luck of Madame Midas was getting quite a proverb in Ballarat One bright morning Vanderloop was in the office running up endless columns of figures and Madame dressed in her underground garments was making ready to go below just having stepped in to see Gaston By the way Montseuille Vanderloop she said in English for it was only in the evenings they spoke French I am expecting a young lady this morning so you can tell her I have gone down the mine but will be back in an hour if she will wait for me Certainly Madame said Vanderloop looking up with his bright smile and the young lady's name Kitty Marchhurst replied Madame pausing a moment at the door of the office she is the daughter of the reverent Marc Marchhurst a minister at Ballarat I think you will like her Montseuille Vanderloop she went on in a conversational tone she is a charming girl only 17 and extremely pretty then I am sure to like her return Gaston regailey I never could resist the charm of a pretty woman mind said Madame severely holding up her finger you must not turn my favourites head with any of your idol compliments she has been very strictly brought up and the language of gallantry is Greek to her Vanderloop tried to look penitent and failed utterly Madame he said rising from his seat and gravely bowing I will speak of nothing to Madame but of the weather and the crops till you return Madame laughed pleasantly you are incorrigible Montseuille Vanderloop she said as she turned to go however don't forget what I said for I trust you when Mrs. Villiers had gone closing the office door after her Gaston was silent for a few minutes and then burst out laughing she trusts me he said in a mocking tone in heaven's name why I never did pretend to be a saint and I'm certainly not going to be one because I'm put on my word of honour Madame with an ironical bow in the direction at the closed door since you trust me I will not speak of love to this bread and butter miss unless she proves more than ordinarily pretty in which case shrugging his shoulders I'm afraid I must betray your trust and follow my own judgement he laughed again and then going back to his desk begun to add up his figures at the second column however he paused and commenced to sketch faces on the blotting paper she's the daughter of the minister he said musingly I can guess then what like she is prim and demure like a caricature by chum in that case she will be safe from me for I could never bear an ugly woman by the way I wonder how ugly women think themselves pretty their mirrors must lie most obligeingly if they do there was a doubt she was decidedly plain not to say ugly and yet so brilliant in her talk I was sorry she died yes even though she was the cause of my exile to New Caledonia but it is always a woman one has to thank for one's misfortunes curse them though why I should I don't know for they have always been good friends to me ah well to return to business Madam Mazzell Kitty is coming and I must behave like a bear in case she should think my intentions are wrong he went to work on the figures again when suddenly he heard a high clear voice singing outside at first he thought it was a bird but no bird could execute such trills and shakes so by the time the voice arrived at the office door Monsil Vandaloup came to the conclusion that the owner of the voice was a woman and that woman was Miss Kitty Mouchhurst he leaned back in his chair and wondered idly if she would knock at the door or enter without ceremony the latter course was the one adopted by Miss Mouchhurst for she threw open the door and stood there blushing and pouting at the embarrassing situation in which she now found herself I thought I would find Mrs Villiers here she said in a low sweet voice the peculiar timber of which sent a thrill through Gaston's young blood as he arose to his feet then she looked up and catching his dark eyes fixed on her with a good deal of admiration in them she looked down and commenced drawing figures on the dusty floor with the tip of a very dainty shoe Madam has gone down the mine said Monsil Vandaloup politely but she desired me to say that she would be back soon and that you were to wait here and I was to entertain you then with a grave bow he placed the only chair in the office at the disposal of his visitor and leaned up against the mantelpiece in an attitude of unstudied grace Miss Mouchhurst accepted his offer and depositing her small person in the big cane chair she took 30 glances at him while Gaston, whose experience of women was by no means limited looked at her curly in a manner which would have been rude but for the charming smile which quivered upon his lips Kitty Mouchhurst was a veritable fairy in size and her hands and feet were exquisitely formed while her figure had all the plumpness and roundness of a girl of 17 which age she was though she really did not look more than 14 an innocent childlike face two limpid blue eyes a straight little nose and a charming rose-lipped mouth were Kitty's principal attractions and her hair was really wonderful growing all over her head in crisp golden curls childlike enough her face looked in repose but with the smile came the woman such a smile a laughing merry expression such as the Greeks gave to heath dressed in a rough white dress trimmed with pale blue ribbons and her golden head surmounted by a sailor hat with a scarf of the same as your hue tied around it Kitty looked really charming and Vanderloop could hardly restrain himself from taking her up in his arms and fixing her so delightfully fresh and perquant she appeared Kitty on her side had examined Gaston with the woman's quickness of taking in details and she mentally decided he was the best looking man she had ever seen only she wished he would talk shyness was not a part of her nature so after waiting a reasonable time for Vanderloop to commence she determined to start herself I'm waiting to be entertained she said in a hurried voice raising her eyes then afraid of her own temerity she looked down again Gaston smiled a little at Kitty's outspoken remark that remembering madam's injunction he rather mischievously determined to carry out her desires to the letter it is a very nice day he said gravely Kitty looked up and laughed merrily I don't think that's a very original remark she said coolly producing an apple from her pocket if that's all you've got to say I hope madam won't be long Vanderloop laughed again at her petulance and eyed her critically as she took a bite out of the red side of the apple with her white teeth you like apples he asked very much amused by her candor pretty well returned Miss Marchurst eyeing the fruit in a disparaging manner peaches and isa are madam's peaches right looking anxiously at him I think they are rejoined Gaston gravely then we'll have some for tea decided Kitty taking another bite out of her apple I'm going to stay to tea you know she went on in a conversational tone I always stayed to tea when I'm on a visit here and then Brown that's our man in an explanatory manner comes and fetches me home happy Brown murmured Vanderloop who really meant what he said Kitty laughed and blushed I've heard all about you she said coolly nodding to him nothing to my disadvantage I hope anxiously oh dear no rather the other way returned Miss Marchurst gaily they said you were good looking and so you are very good looking Gaston bowed and laughed rather amused at the way she spoke that he was used to being flattered by women they were hardly in the outspoken way at this country maiden she's been strictly brought up he muttered sarcastically I can see that Eve before the fall in all her innocence I don't like your eyes said Miss Kitty suddenly what's the matter with them with the quizzical glance they look wicked ah then they belly with him returned Vanderloop seriously I assure you I'm a very good young man then I'm sure not to like you said Kitty gravely shaking her golden head pass the minister you know and nothing but good young men come to our house they're all so horrid viciously I hate him Vanderloop laughed so much at this the Kitty rose to her feet and looked offended I don't know what you are laughing at she said throwing her half-eaten apple out of the door but I don't believe you're a good young man you look awfully bad seriously really I don't think I ever saw anyone look so bad suppose you undertake my reformation suggested Vanderloop eagerly oh I couldn't write but brightly Pa will I don't think I'll trouble him said Gaston hastily who by no means relish the idea I'm too far gone to be any good she was about to reply when Madam Midas entered and Kitty flew to her with a cry of delight why Kitty said Madam highly pleased I am so glad to see you my dear but keep off or I'll be filing your dress yes so you will said Kitty retreating to a safe distance what a long time you have been have idea said Madam taking off her underground dress I hope Monsue of Vanderloop has proved a good substitute Madam answered Vanderloop gaily as he assisted Mrs Villiers to doff her muddy garments we have been talking about the crops and the weather oh indeed replied Mrs Villiers who saw the flush on Kitty's cheek and by no means approved of it it must have been very entertaining Ferry assented Gaston going back to his desk come along Kitty said Madam with a keen glance at her clerk and taking Kitty's arm within her own let us go to the house and see if we can find any peaches I hope we'll find some big ones said Kitty guttonously as she danced along by the side of Mrs Villiers temptation has been placed in my path in a very attractive form said Vanderloop to himself as he went back to those dreary columns of figures that I will not be able to resist when he came home to tea he found Kitty was as joyous and full of life as ever in spite of the long hot afternoon and the restless energy with which she had been running about even Madam Midas felt weary and worn out by the heat of the day and was sitting tranquilly by the window but Kitty with bright eyes and restless feet followed Selena all over the house under the pretense of helping her an inflection which that sage spinced a bore with patience resignation after tea it was too hot to light the lamp and even Selena let the fire go out while all the windows and doors were open to let the cool night wind blow in we've sat on the veranda with Macintosh smoking cigarettes and listening to Madam who was playing Mendelthans in a gondola that dreamy melody full of the swing and rhythmic movements of the waves then to play the old Archie she played Old Langzine that tender caressing air which is one of the most pathetic and hearts-during melodies in the world Archie leaned forward with bowed head as the sad melody floated on the air and his thoughts went back to the Heatherclad Scottish Hills and what was this Madam was now playing with its piercing sorrow and sad refrain surely farewell to Lockerbear that bitter lament at the exile leaving Bonnie Scotland far behind Vanderloop who was not attending to the music but thinking of Kitty saw two big tears steal down Macintosh's severe face and marbled at such a sign of weakness sentiment from him he muttered in a cynical tone why I should have as soon expected blood from a stone suddenly the sad air ceased and after a few chords Kitty commenced to sing accompaniment Gaston arose to his feet and leaned up against the door for she was singing Gaonod's charming vaults from Morella the bird-like melody of which suited her high clear voice to perfection Vanderloop was rather astonished at hearing this innocent little maiden execute the difficult vaults with such ease and her shape was as rapid and true as if she had been trained in the best schools of Europe he did not know that Kitty had naturally a very flexible voice and that Madame had trained her for nearly a year when the song was ended Gaston entered the room to express his thanks and astonishment both of which Kitty received with bursts of laughter you have a fortune I have a throat, Madame Azale he said with a bow and I assure you I have heard all the great singers of today from Patty Downwoods I have only been able to teach her very little said Madame looking affectionately at Miss Marchhurst who now stood by the table blushing at Vanderloop's praises but when we find the devil's lead I'm going to send her home to Italy to study singing for the stage asked Vanderloop that is, as it may be replied Madame enigmatically but now, Monsieur Vanderloop you must sing her something oh, does he sing said Kitty joyously yes, and play too answered Madame as she vacated her seat at the piano and put her arm around Kitty from the Grand Duchess, Montsheur he shook his head too gay for such an hour he said running his fingers lightly over the keys I will give you something from Forst he had a pleasant tenor voice not very strong but singularly pure and penetrating and his song Salve D'Nora the exquisite melody of which touched the heart of Madame Midas with a vague longing for love and affection while in Kitty's breast there was a feeling she had never felt before her joyousness departed her eyes glanced at the singer in a half frightened manner and she clung closer to Madame Midas as if she were afraid as indeed she was when Vanderloop finished the song he dashed into a riotous student song which he had heard many a time in Midnight Paris and finally ended with singing Alfred de Muzzitz Mary Littlechanson which he thought especially appropriate to Kitty Bon Dieu, Cézanne Marthleur de Bois S2 to Jor's La Plue Jolly J. Riviennes Tell Q to me Bois Dune Grand Votage in Italy all together Kitty had enjoyed her evening immensely and was quite sorry when Brown came to take her home Madame wrapped her up well and put her in the buggy but was rather startled to see her flushed cheeks bright eyes and the sudden glances she stole at Vanderloop who stood handsome and debonair in the moonlight I'm afraid I've made a mistake of myself as the buggy Drobot she had for Kitty had fallen in love with the Frenchman Anne Gaston he walked back to the house beside Madame thinking of Kitty and humming the gay refrain of the song he had been singing J. Paard de Van Tameuzon Ubreta Porte Bon Dieu, Cézanne of love at first sight on both sides End of Part 1 Chapter 6 Part 1 Chapter 7 of Madame Midas Madame Midas by Fergus Hume Part 1 Chapter 7 Mr. Villiers pays a visit when Villiers were by no means pleased with the existing state of things in sending Vanderloop to the patchulous claim they had thought to compromise Madame Midas by placing her in the society of a young and handsome man and counting on one of two things happening either that Madame would fall in love with the attractive Frenchman and seek for a divorce between him which divorce Villiers would of course resist unless she bribed him by giving him an interest in the patchulous or that Villiers could assume an injured tone and accuse Vanderloop of being his wife's lover and threatened to divorce her unless she made him her partner in the claim but they had both reckoned wrongly for neither of these things as Madame was not in love with Vanderloop and acted with too much circumspection to give any opportunity for scandal consequently slivers and co not finding matters going to their satisfaction met one day at the office of the senior partner for the purpose of discussing the affair and seeing what could be done towards bringing Madame Midas her way of thinking Villiers was lounging in one of the chairs dressed in a white linen suit and looked rather respectable though his inflamed face and watery eyes showed what a drunkard he was he was sipping a glass of whiskey and water and smoking his pipe while he watched slivers stumping up and down the office swinging his cork arm vehemently to and fro that was his custom when excited Billy sat on the table and eyed his master with a steady stare or else hopped about among the papers talking to himself you thought you were going to do big things when you sent that jucka dandy out to Pectulus said Villiers after a pause at any rate I did something snowed slivers in a rage which is more than you did a barrel look here, don't you call names crowd Mr Villiers in a sulky tone I'm a gentleman, remember that you were a gentleman, you mean corrected the senior partner with a malignant glance of his one eye what are you now a stockbroker retorted the other taking a sip of whiskey and a damn poor one at that replied the other sitting on the edge of the table which position caused his wooden leg to stick straight out a result which he immediately utilized by pointing it threateningly in the direction of Villiers look here, said that gentleman suddenly sitting up in his chair in a defiant manner dropped these personalities and come to business what's to be done Banderloop is firmly established there but there's not the slightest chance of my wife falling in love with him wait, said slivers stolidly wagging his wooden leg up and down wait, you blind fool wait wait for the wagon, Shreve Billy behind and then supplemented his remarks by adding, oh my precious mother as he climbed up on slivers shoulder you always say wait, growl Villiers not paying any attention to Billy's interruption I tell you, we can't wait much longer they'll drop on the devil's lead shortly and then we'll be up a tree then suppose you go out to Pactulus and see your wife, suggested slivers no go return Villiers gloomily she'd break my head but you ain't afraid of a woman, are you snulled slivers viciously no, but I am of Macintosh and the rest of them retorted Villiers what can one man do against twenty of these devils why, they'd kill me if I went out there and that infernal wife of mine wouldn't raise a little finger to save me you're a devil observe Billy I'm Villiers from his perch on slivers shoulder oh lord, ha ha ha he's going into fits of laughter then drawing himself suddenly up he ejaculated pickles and shut up it's no good beating about the bush said the wooded-legged man getting down from the table you go out near the claim and see if you can catch her then give it to her hot what am I to say ask Villiers helplessly slivers looked at him with a fiery scorn in his one eye say he shrieked waving his cork arm talk about your darned honour say she's dragging your noble name through the mud and say you'll divorce her if she don't give you half a share in the patchless that will frighten her pickles, again ejaculated the parrot I know it won't said Villiers brags a good dog I've tried that game on before and it was no go then try it your own way grumbled slivers sulkingly going to his seat and pouring himself out some whiskey I don't care what you do as long as I get into the patchless and once I'm in the devil himself won't get me out Villiers thought a moment then turned to go I'll try, he said went out of the door but it's no go I tell you she stoned and with a dismal nod he slouched away stoned is she pounding furiously on the floor with his wooden leg then I'd smash her I'd crush her I'd grind her into little bits dam her and overcome by his rage slivers shook Billy off his shoulder I think Meanwhile Mr. Villiers dreading lest his courage should give way went to the nearest hotel and drunk pretty freely so that he might bring himself into an abnormal condition of bravery thus primed he went to the railway station took the train to the patchless claim and on arriving at the end of his journey had one final glass of whiskey to steady his nerves the last straw however breaks the camel's back and this last drink reduced Mr. Villiers to that mixed state which is known in colonial phrase as half cocked he lurched out of the hotel and went in the direction of the patchless claim his only difficulty was that as a matter of fact the solitary mound of white earth which marked the entrance to the mine suddenly appeared before his eyes in a double condition and he beheld two patchless claims which curious optical delusion rather confused him in as much as he was undecided to which he should go itched the drinkish he said at length stopping in the middle of the white dusty road and looking pre-naturally solemn it makes me see double if I see my wife I'll see two of her then with a drunken giggle I'll be a bigamist this idea so tickled him that he commenced to laugh and finding it inconvenient to do so on his legs he sat down to indulge his humour freely a laughing jackass perched on the fence at the side of the road heard Mr. Villiers hilarity a broken reveal turn of mind itself went off into fits of laughter also on hearing this echo Mr. Villiers tried to get up in order to punish the man who mocked him but though his intentions were good his legs were unsteady and after one or two ineffectual attempts to rise he gave it up as a bad job then rolling himself a little inside of the dusty white road he went sound asleep with his head resting on a tuft of green grass in his white linen suit he was hardly distinguishable in the fine white dust of the road and though the sun blazed hotly down on him and the mosquitoes stung him yet he slept calmly on and it was not till nearly four o'clock in the afternoon that he woke up he was more sober but still not quite steady being in that disagreeable temper to which some men are subject when suffering a recovery rising to his feet with a hearty curse he picked up his hat and put it on then thrusting his hands into his pockets he slept slowly along bent upon meeting his wife and picking a quarrel with her and luckily for Madame Midas she had that day been to Ballarat and was just returning she had gone by train and was now leaving the station and walking home to the patchelos along the road being absorbed in thought she did not notice the dusty figure in front of her otherwise she would have been sure to have recognised her husband and would have given him a wide berth by crossing the fields instead of going by the road Mr Billy is therefore tramped steadily on towards the patchelos and his wife tramped steadily after him until at last at the turn of the road where it entered her property she overtook him a shudder of disgust passed through her frame as she raised her eyes and saw him and she had made a sudden gesture as though to fall behind and thus avoid him it was however too late for Mr Billy is hearing footsteps turned suddenly and saw the woman he had come to see standing in the middle of the road husband and wife stood gazing at one another for a few moments in silence she looking at him with an expression of intense loathing on her fine face with vainly trying to assume a dignified carriage a task which his late fit of drunkenness rendered difficult at last his wife drawing her dress together as though his touch would have contaminated her tried to pass but on seeing this he sprung forward before she could change her position and caught her wrist not yet he hissed through his clenched teeth first she must have a word with me madam Midas looked around for aid but no one was inside there was some distance from the patch and the heat of the afternoon being intense everyone was inside at last madam saw some man moving towards them down the long road which lead to the station and knowing that van der loop had been into town she prayed in her heart that it might be he and so prepared to parley with her husband till he should come up having taken this resolution she suddenly threw of Villiers grasp and turned towards him with a superb gesture of scorn what do you want she asked in a low clear voice but in a tone of concentrated passion money growled Villiers insolently planting himself directly in front of her and I'm going to have it money she echoed in a tone of bitter irony have you not had enough yet have you not squandered every penny I had from my father in your profligacy and evil companions what more do you want a share in the patchless he's wife laughed scornfully a share in the patchless she echoed with a bitter sarcasm a modest request truly after squandering my fortune dragging me through the mire and treating me like a slave this man expects to be rewarded listen to me Randolph Villiers she said fiercely stepping up to him and seizing his hand the land we now stand on is mine the gold underneath it is mine and if you were to go on your knees to me and beg for more still a bread to save you from starving I would not lift one finger to sucker you Villiers writhed like a snake under her bitter tone I understand he said in a taunting tone you want it for your lover my lover what do you mean what I say he retorted boldly all Ballarat knows the position that young Frenchman holds in the patchless claim Mrs. Villiers felt herself grow faint the accusation was so horrible this man who had embittered her life from the time she married him was still her evil genius and was trying to ruin her in the eyes of the world the man she had seen on the road was now nearly up to them and with a revulsion of feeling she thought that it was Vanderloop recovering herself with an effort she turned and phased him steadily you lied when you spoke just now she said in a quiet voice I will not lower myself to reply to your accusation but as there is a God above us if you dare to cross my path again I will kill you she looked so terrible when she said this that Villiers involuntarily drew back but recovering himself in a moment he sprung forward and caught her arm you devil I'll make you pay for this and he twisted her arm till she thought it was broken you'll kill me will you you you he shrieked still twisting her arm and causing her intense pain you viper suddenly when Madam was almost fainting with pain she heard a shout and knew that Vanderloop had come to the rescue he had recognised Madam Midas down the road and saw that her companion was threatening her so he made all possible speed and arrived just in time Madam turned round to see Vanderloop throw her husband into a ditch by the side of the road and walked towards her he was not at all excited but seemed as cool and calm as if he had just been shaking hands with Mr. Villiers instead of treating him violently you had better go home Madam he said in his usual cool voice and leave me to deal with this gentleman you are not hurt only my arm replied Mrs. Villiers in a faint voice he nearly broke it but I can walk home alone if you can do so said Vanderloop with a doubtful look at her I will send him away don't let him hurt you I don't think there's much danger replied the young man stronger than I look thank you Montseor said Madam Midas giving him her hand you have rendered me a great service and one I will not forget he bent down and kissed her hand which action was seen by Mr. Villiers as he crawled out of the ditch when Madam Midas was gone and Vanderloop could see her walking homeward he turned to look for Mr. Villiers and found him seated on the edge of the ditch all covered with mud and streaming with water presenting a most pettable appearance he regarded Montseor Vanderloop in a most malignant manner which however had no effect on that young gentleman who produced a cigarette and having lighted it proceeded to talk I'm sorry I can't offer you one said Gaston a fably but I hardly think you would enjoy it in your present damp condition if I might be permitted to suggest anything with a polite smile a bath and a change of clothes would be most suitable to you and you will find both a bellerette I also think said Vanderloop with an air of one who thinks deeply that if you hurry you will catch the next train which will save you a rather long walk Mr. Villiers glared at his tormentor in speechless anger and tried to look dignified but covered as he was with mud his effort was not successful do you know who I am he said at length in a blustering manner under some circumstances said Montseor Vanderloop in a smooth voice I should have taken you for a mudbank but as you both speak and smile I presume you are a man of the lowest type as you English yourself say a black guard I'll smash you Groud Villiers stepping forward I wouldn't try if I were you retorted Vanderloop with a disparaging glance I am young and strong almost a total abstainer you on the contrary are old and flabby with the shaking nerves of an incurable drunkard no it would be hardly fair for me to touch you you do not lay a finger on me said Villiers defiantly quite right replied Vanderloop lighting another cigarette you are rather too dirty for close companionship I really think you'd better go expect you and this is the man that I obtained work for said Mr Villiers addressing the air it's a very ungrateful will said Vanderloop calmly with a shrug of his shoulders I never expect anything from it I'm sorry if you do for you are sure to be disappointed Villiers finding he could make nothing out of the impertable coolness of the young Frenchman turned to go but as he went said spitefully you can tell my wife I'll pay her for this accounts are paid on Saturdays called out Monsu or Vanderloop Gailey if you call I will give you a receipt of the same kind as you had today Villiers made no response as he was already out of hearing and went on his way to the station his clothes and rage in his heart Vanderloop looked after him for a few minutes with a queer smile on his lips then turned on his heel and walked home humming a song end of part one chapter seven part one chapter eight of Madame Midas this Libra box recording is in the public domain Madame Midas by Fergus Hume part one chapter eight Madame Midas strikes highly Asop knew human nature very well when he wrote his fable of the old man and his ass who tried to please everybody and ended up by pleasing nobody bearing this in mind Madame Midas determined to please herself and take no one's advice but her own with regard to Vanderloop she knew if she dismissed him from the mine it would give colour to her husband's vile insinuations so she thought the wisest plan would be to take no notice of her meeting with him and let things remain as they were it turned out to be the best thing she could have done for though Villiers went about Ballarat accusing her of being a young Frenchman's mistress everyone was too well aware of existing circumstances to believe what he said they knew that he had squandered his wife's fortune and that she had left him in disgust at his profligacy so they declined to believe his accusations against a woman who had proved herself true steel inwithstanding bad fortune for Mr Villiers endeavours to ruin his wife only recoiled on his own head for the Ballarat folk argued and rightly that whatever she did it was not his place to cast the first stone at her seeing that the unsatisfactory position she was now in was mainly his own work Villiers therefore gained nothing by his attempt to blacken his wife's character except the contempt of everyone and even the few friends he had gained turned their backs on him until no one would associate with him but Slivers who did so in order to gain his own ends the company had quarrelled over the unsuccessful result of Villiers' visit to the Pactulus and Slivers as senior partner Billy called Villiers all the names he could lay his tongue to which abused Villiers accepted in silence not even having the spirit to resent it but though he was outwardly sulky and quiet yet within he cherished a deep hatred against his wife for the contempt with which he was treated and inwardly vowed opportunity it was now nearly six months since Vandaloup had become clerk at the Pactulus and he was getting tired of it only watching his opportunity to make a little money and go to Melbourne where he had not much doubt as to his success with a certain sum of money to work on Montsuel Vandaloup thought that with his talents he would soon be able to make a fortune particularly as he was quite unfettered by any scruples and as long as he made money he did not care how he gained it with such an adaptable nature he could hardly help doing well but in order to give him the start he required a little capital so stayed on at the Pactulus and saved every penny he earned in the hope of soon accumulating enough to leave another thing that kept him there was his love for Kitty not a very pure or elevating love certainly still it was love for all that and Vandaloup could not tear himself away from the place where she resided he had called on Kitty's father the reverent Mark Marchhurst who lived at the top of Blackhill near Ballarat and did not like him Mr. Marchhurst a grave quiet man who was the pastor of a particular sect calling themselves very modestly de-elect was hardly the kind of individual to attract a brilliant young fellow like Vandaloup and the wonder was that he ever had such a charming daughter Kitty had fallen deeply in love with Vandaloup so as he told her he loved her in return she thought that someday they would get married but nothing was father from Monsue Vandaloup's thoughts that marriage, even with Kitty for he knew how foolish it would be for him to marry before making a position I don't want a wife to drag me down he said to himself one day when Kitty had hinted at matrimony when I am wealthy it will be time enough to think of marriage but it will be long before I am rich and can I wait for baby all that time unless I do not think so the fact was the young man was very liberal in his ideas and infinitely preferred a mistress to a wife he had not any evil designs towards Kitty but her bright manner and charming face pleased him and he simply enjoyed the hours as they passed she idolised him and Gaston who was accustomed to be petted and caressed by women accepted all her affection as his due curiously enough Madame Midas links I'd as she was attracted to the true state of affairs Vanderloop had told Kitty that no one was to know of their love for one another and though Kitty was dying to tell Madame about it yet she kept silent at his request and acted so indifferently towards him when under Mrs Villiers eye that any doubts that lady had about the fascinations of her clerk soon vanished as to Monsieur Vanderloop the situation was an old one for him accustomed as he had been to carry on with guilty wives under the very noses of unsuspecting husbands and on this occasion he acted admirably he was very friendly with Kitty in public evidently looking upon her as a mere child although he made no difference in his manner and this innocent intrigue gave a preclaimed flavour to his otherwise dull life meanwhile the devil's lead was still undiscovered many people declaring it was a myth and that such a lead had never existed three people however had a firm belief in its existence and were certain it would be found some day this trio being Macintosh, Meta Midas and Slippers the patchless claim was a sword at Naboth's vineyard to Slippers who, in company with Billy used to sit in his dingy little office and grind his teeth as he thought of all the wealth lying beneath those green fields he had once even gone so far as to offer to buy a share in the claim from Meta Midas but that had been promptly refused by that lady a circumstance which by no means added to his love for her still the devil's lead was not found and people were beginning to disbelieve in its existence when suddenly indications appeared which showed that it was near at hand nuggets some large some small they were constantly discovered and every day news was brought into Ballarat about the turning up of a 30 ounce or a 20 ounce nugget in the patchless when to crown all the news came and ran like wildfire through the city that a 300 ounce nugget had been unearthed there was great excitement over this as such a large one had not been found for some time and when Slivers heard of its discovery he cursed and swore most horribly for with his long experience of gold mining he knew that the long looked for devil's lead was near at hand Billy becoming excited with his master begun to swear also and those two companions cursed Meta Midas and all that belonged to her most heartily Slivers could only have seen the interior of Meta Midas dining room by some trick of necromancy he would certainly not have been able to do the subject justice in the swearing line there were present Meta Midas Selina, Macintosh and Vanderloop and they were all gathered around the table looking at the famous nugget there it lay in the centre of the table a virgin mess of gold all waterworn and polished hollowed out like a honeycomb and dotted over with white pebbles like currents in a plum pudding I think I'll send it to Melbourne for exhibition said Mrs. Villiers touching the nugget very lightly with her fingers Deed mum and Tisk worth it replied Macintosh he was relaxed in a grimly pleasant manner but Losh Tis nothing tar what you'll come out the Deals lead oh come now said Vanderloop with a disbelieving smile the Deals lead won't consist of nuggets like that maybe no return the old scotchman dryly but every nickel makes a muckle and you kin the lead well have money smart nuggets which is mere paying to my mind the new legend what's the time asked madam rather irrelevantly turning to Archie Mr. Macintosh drew out the large silver watch which was part and parcel of himself and answered gravely that it was two o'clock then I'll tell you what said Mrs. Villiers rising I'll take it in with me to Mr. Marchhurst Macintosh drew down the corners of his mouth for as a rigid Presbyterian he by no means approved of Marchhurst's heretical opinions but of course said nothing as madam wished can I come with you madam said Vanderloop eagerly that he never lost an opportunity of seeing kitty if he could help it certainly replied madam graciously we will start at once Vanderloop was going away to get ready when Macintosh stopped him that friend of yours is ganging await the town the day he said touch and Vanderloop lightly on the shoulder what for asked the Frenchman carelessly just to see the play actors I'm thinking returned Archie dryly he wants to stop all night in the town so I've let him go and have told him to pit up at the Wattle Tree Hotel the landlord of which is a friend of mine very kind of you I'm sure said Vanderloop with a pleasant smile but may I ask what play actors you refer to I didn't hear anything about sick folk retorted Macintosh piously the deals and bends what will gang into the pit of Toppet aren't you rather hard on them Archie said Madam Midas smiling quietly I'm very fond of the theatre myself it's no for me to give me opinion about my vetters replied Archie ungraciously as he went out to see after the horse and trap but I didn't care about sitting in the seat of the scornful or walking in the maze of the unrighteous and with this parting shot at Vanderloop he went away that young man shrugged his shoulders and looked at Madam Midas in such a comical manner that she could not help smiling you must forgive Archie she said pausing at the door of her bedroom for a moment he has been brought up severely and it is hard to rid oneself of the traditions of youth very traditional in this case I'm afraid answered Gaston referring to Macintosh's age if you like said Madam in a kindly tone you can stay in tonight yourself and go to the theatre thank you Madam replied Gaston gravely I will avail myself of your kind permission I'm afraid you will find an Australian provincial company that will change after the Parisian theatres said Mrs Villiers as she vanished into her room Vanderloop smiled and turned to Selena who was busy about her household work Madam herself Selena he said gaily I am in want of a proverb to answer Madam if I can't get the best I must be content with her replies Selena flattered at being applied to thought a moment then raised her head triumphantly half aloof is better than none she announced with a sour smile Madam herself said Vanderloop gravely regarding her as he stood at the door your wisdom is only equal by your charming appearance the beautiful bow he went out Selena paused the moment in her occupation of polishing spoons and looked after him doubtful as to whether he was ingest or earnest being unable to decide she resumed her work with a stifle chuckle and consoled herself with a proverb to be good is better than to be beautiful which saying as everyone knows is most consoling to plain looking people the grape nugget was carefully packed in a stout wooden box by Archie and placed in the trap by him with such caution that Madam who was already seated in it asked him if he was afraid she would be robbed it's always best to be on the right side mem said Archie handing her the reins we did again what may happen why no one knows I am taking this to Ballarat today said Madam drawing on her gloves don't they thought Montseuel Vanderloop as he took his seat beside her she doesn't know that I've told Pierre and without a single thought for the woman whose confidence he was betraying and of whose bread and salt he had partaken Vanderloop shook the reins and the horse started down the road in the direction of Ballarat carrying Madam Midas and her nugget you carry Caesar and his fortunes Montseuel Vanderloop she said with a smile I do better he answered gaily I carry Madam Midas and her luck