 Part 2, Chapter 6, of Madame Midas. This LibraVox recording is in the public domain. Madame Midas by Fergus Hume. Part 2, Chapter 6, On Change. Young Australia has a wonderful love for the excitement of gambling. Take him away from the betting ring, and he goes straight to the share market to dabble in gold and silver shares. The great humbug, Gold Vining Company, is floated on the Melbourne market, a perfect fortune in itself, which influential men are floating in a kind of semi philanthropic manner to benefit mankind at large, and themselves in particular. Report by competent geologists, rich specimens of the roof exhibited to the confiding public, company of 50,000 shares at a pound each, two shillings on application, two shillings on allotment. The balance in calls which influential men solemnly assure confiding public will never be needed. Young Australia sees a chance of making thousands in a week, buys 1,000 shares at four shillings, only 200 pounds. Shares will rise, and Young Australia hopefully looks forward to pocketing 2,000 or 3,000 by his modest venture of 200. The company floated, shares rising slowly. Young Australia will not sell at a profit, still dazzled by his time recall thousands. Calls must be made to put up machinery, shares have a downward tendency. Never mind, there will only be one or two calls, so stick to shares as parents of possible thousands. Machinery erected, now crushing, two or three ounces to tonne a certainty. Shares have an upward tendency. Washing up takes place, two penny weights to tonne, despair, shares run down to nothing, and Young Australia sees his thousands disappear like snow in the sun. The great humbug wreath proves itself worthy of its name, and the company collapses amid the groans of confiding public and secret joy of influential men who have sold at the top price. Vanderloop 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. Vanderloop was of a speculative nature himself, and had he been possessed by any surplus cash, wood, no doubt, have risked it in the jugglery of the share market. But as he had none to spare, he stood back and amused himself with looking at the spider and the fly business, which was constantly going on. Sometimes, indeed, the fly got the better of spider number one, but was unable to keep away from the web, and was sure to fall into the web of spider number two. Monsieur Vanderloop, therefore, considered the whole affair as too risky to be gone into without unlimited cash, but now he had a chance at making money. He determined to try his hand at the business. True, he knew that he was in for a swindle, but then he was behind the scenes, and would benefit by the knowledge he had gained. If the question at issue had really been that of getting gold out of the reef and paying dividends with the profits, Gaston would have snapped his fingers scornfully and held a loop. But this was simply a running up of shares by means of a rich reef being struck. He intended to buy at the present market value, which was for shillings, and sell as soon as he could make a good profit, say, at one pound, so there was not much chance of him losing his money. The shares would probably drop again when the pocket of gold was worked out, but then that would be none of his affair, as he would, by that time, have sold out and made his pile. Monsue or Vanderloop was a fly who was going straight into the webs of stock-broken spiders, but then he knew as much about this particular web as the spiders themselves. Full of his scheme to make money, Vanderloop started the town to see a broker, first, however, having settled with Mrs. Poolechop over Kitty's disappearance. He had found a letter from Kitty in the bedroom, in which she had bitten him goodbye forever, but this he did not show to Mrs. Poolechop, merely stating to that worthy lady that his wife had left him. And it ain't to be wondered at, the outraged angel, she said to Gaston, as he stood at the door, faultlessly dressed, ready to go into town, the way you treated her, were shameful. Gaston shrugged his shoulders, lit a cigarette, and smiled at Mrs. Poolechop. My dear lady, he said, blandly, pray attend to your medicine bottles and leave my domestic affairs alone. You certainly understand the one, but I doubt your ability to come to any conclusion regarding the other. Fine words don't butter no parsnips, retorted Mrs. Poolechop viciously, and if Poolechop weren't an Apollo, he had a kind heart. Bear me these domestic stories, please, said Vanderloop Coldley. They do not interest me in the least. Since my wife, with a sneer, has gone, I will leave your hospitable roof. I will send for all my property, either to-day or to-morrow, and if you make out your account in the meantime, my messenger will pay it. Good day, and without another word, Vanderloop walked slowly down the path, leaving Mrs. Poolechop speechless with indignation. He went into town first to the city of Melbourne Bank, and cashed metal chips checked for six hundred pounds. Then, calling a handsome, he drove along to the hibernian bank, where he had an account, and paid it into his credit, reserving ten pounds for his immediate use. Then he re-entered his handsome, and went along to the office of a stockbroker called Paul Glaze, who was a member of the Bachelors, and in whose hands Vanderloop intended to place his business. Paul Glaze was a short, stout man, scrupulously neatly dressed, with iron grey hair standing straight up, and a habit of dropping out his words one at a time, so that the listener had to construct quite a little history between each in order to arrive at their meeting, and the connection they had with one another. Morning, said Paul Glaze, letting the solutation fly out of his mouth rapidly, and then closing it again in case any other word might be waiting ready to pop out unknown to him. Vanderloop sat down and stated his business briefly. I wanted to buy me some magpie brief shears, he said, leaning on the table. Many dropped out of Paul Glaze's mouth, and then it shut again with a snap. Depends on the price, replied Vanderloop with a shrug. I see in the papers they are for shillings. Mr. Paul Glaze took out his share-book, and rapidly turned over the leaves, found what he wanted, and nodded. Oh! said Vanderloop, making a rapid mental calculation, then buy me two thousand five hundred, that will be about five hundred pounds worth. Mr. Paul Glaze nodded, then whistled. Your commission, I presume, said Vanderloop, making another calculation, will be throopence. Sixpence interrupted the stock broker. Oh! I thought it was throopence, answered Vanderloop quietly. However, that does not make any difference to me. Your commission, at that rate, will be twelve pounds, ten shillings. Paul Glaze nodded again, and sat looking at Vanderloop, like a stony mercantile spink. If you will, then buy me these shares, said Vanderloop, rising, and taking up his gloves and hat. When am I to come along and see you? Four, said Paul Glaze, today, inquired Vanderloop, a nod from the stock broker. Very well, said Vanderloop quietly. I'll give you a check for the amount then. There's nothing more to be said, I believe, and he walked over to the door. Say, from Paul Glaze, yes, replied Gaston indolently, swinging his stick to and fro. New, inquired the stock broker. You mean to this sort of thing, said Vanderloop, looking at him, and receiving a nod in token of that coalescence added entirely. Risky dropped from the Paul Glaze mouth. I never knew a gold mine that wasn't retorted Vanderloop dryly. Bad in an assertive tone from Paul Glaze. This particular mine, I suppose you mean, said Gaston, with a yawn. Very likely it is. However, I'm willing to take the risk. Good day, see you at four. And with a careless nod, Monsue Vanderloop lounged out of the office. He walked along Collins Street, met a few friends, and kept looking out for Kitty. He, however, did not see her, but there was a surprise in store for him. For turning round into Swanson Street, he came across Archie McIntosh. Yes, there he was, with his grim, severe scotch face, with the white frill rounded, and Gaston smiled as he saw the old man, dressed in rigid broadcloth, casting disproving looks on the pretty girls walking along. A set of hisies growled the amiable Archie to himself, prancing along with their new gorgores and fine class, like war horses, the daughters of Zaon that walked with mincing steps and tinkling ornaments. How do you do? said Vanderloop, touching the broadcloth's shoulder, upon which McIntosh turned. Lord Sabus, he ejaculated grimly. It's your French body. And who's a witty lady? Ay, but you're broadly dressed, my young man, with a disproving look. I'm hoping my duds are paid for. Of course they are, replied Vanderloop daily. Do you think I stole them? Well, oh no, go say as far as that. Remark, don't you cautiously. Maybe you've dwelt by the side of money-waters and flourished. If he can the scripture, you'll see God helped those, what helped themselves. That means you do all the work and give God the credit, retorted Gaston with a sneer. I know all about that. Ah, you're going to the pit of Toppert, when you do, said Mr. McIntosh, who had heard this remark with horror. And you'll no be so ready with your tongue there. I'm thinking that you are not spearing about Mistress Villiers. Why, is she in town? Ask Vanderloop eagerly. Ay, and Salimi with her, and Sardachi, fondling his frill. She's very rich now, as you've no doubt heard. Ay, ay, he went on. She's gotten a broad house down at St. Kilda, and she's going to set up a carriage you're keen. She told me, pursued Mr. McIntosh sally, looking at Vanderloop, if I saw ye, I was to be sure to tell ye to come and see her. Present my compliments to Madam, said Vanderloop quickly, and I will wait on her as soon as possible. Lost Savaslady, said McIntosh irritably. You're as full of fine words as a play actor. Have you seen anything done in this pit of Toppert, of the band, that ran away? Oh, Miss Marchurst, said Vanderloop smoothly, ready with a lie at once. No, I'm sorry to say I've never set eyes on her. The Mistress is just staffed about her. Observe McIntosh, queriously, and she's going to look all through the town till she find the pure wee thing. I hope she will, said Monsu or Vanderloop, who devoutly hoped she wouldn't. Will ye come and have a glass of wine, Mr. McIntosh? Till have a wee drop of whiskey, if ye've got it good, said McIntosh cautiously. But I didn't care for thy wines, that sour on a body's stomach. McIntosh, having thus graciously assented, Vanderloop took him up to the club and introduced him all round as the manager of the famous patchelis. All the young men were wonderfully taken up with Archie and his plane speaking, and had Mr. McIntosh desired, he could have drunk oceans of his favourite beverage. However, being a Scotchman and cautious, he took very little and left Vanderloop to go down to Madame Midas at St. Kilda and bearing a message from the Frenchman that he would call there the next day. Archie having departed, Vanderloop got through the rest of the day as he best could. He met Mr. Wappels in the street, who told him how he had found Kitty, quite unaware that the young man before him was the villain who had betrayed the girl. Vanderloop was delighted to think that Kitty had not mentioned his name and quite approved of Mr. Wappels' intention to take the girl on tour. Having thus arranged for Kitty's future, Gaston went along to his broker and found that the astute Poleglaze had got him his shares. Going up said Poleglaze as he handed the script to Vanderloop and got a check in exchange. Oh, indeed said Vanderloop with a smile. I suppose my two friends had begun their little game already, he thought, as he slipped the script into his breast pocket. Information asked Poleglaze as Vanderloop was going. Oh, you'd like to know where I got it, said Montsu or Vanderloop amiably. Very sorry I can't tell you, but you see, my dear sir, I am not a woman and can keep the secret. Vanderloop walked out and Poleglaze looked after him with a puzzled look, then summed up his opinion in one word, sharp, incisive, and to the point. Clever said Poleglaze and put the check in his soap. Vanderloop strolled along the street thinking. Baby is out of my way, he thought, with a smile. I have the small fortune in my pocket, and he continued thoughtfully. Madam Midas is in Melbourne. I think now, said Montsu or Vanderloop, with another smile, that I have conquered the blind goddess. End of Chapter 2 Part 6 Part 2 Chapter 7 of Madam Midas This LibraVox recording is in the public domain. Madam Midas by Fergus Hume. Part 2 Chapter 7 The Opulence of Madam Midas A wealthy man does not know the meaning of the word friendship. He is not competent to judge, for his wealth precludes him giving a proper opinion. Smug face philanthropists can preach comfortable doctrines in pleasant rooms with well-spread tables and good clothing. They can talk about human nature being unjustly accused and of the kindly impulses and good thoughts in everyone's breasts. Who's sure anyone can preach thus from an altitude of a few thousand a year? But let these same self-complacing kindhearted gentlemen descend in the social scale. Let them look twice at a penny before spending it. Let them face persistent landlady's, exorbitant landlords, or the bitter poverty of the streets, and they will not talk so glibly of human nature and its inherent kindness. No human nature is a sort of fetish, which is credited with a great many amiable qualities it never possesses. And though there are exceptions to the general rule, Belzac's aphorism on mankind that nature works by its self-interest still holds good today. Madame Midas, however, had experienced poverty and the coldness of friends, so was completely disillusioned as to the disinterested motives of the people who now came flocking around her. She was very wealthy and determined to stop in Melbourne for a year and then go home to Europe, so to this end she took a house at St Kilda, which had been formerly occupied by Mark Fretelby, the millionaire who had been mixed up in the famous handsome cab murder nearly 18 months before. His daughter, Mrs Fitzgerald, was in Ireland with her husband and had given instructions to her agents to let the house furnished as it stood. But such a large rent was demanded that no one felt inclined to give it till Mrs Villiers appeared on the scene. The house suited her as she did not want to furnish one of her own, seeing she was only going to stop a year, so she saw Thinton and Tarbot, who had the letting of the place, and took it for a year. The windows were flung open, the furniture brushed and renovated, and the solitary child woman who had been ruler in the lonely room so long was dismissed, and her play was taken by a whole retinue of servants. Mademoisters intended to live in style, so went to work over the setting up of her establishment in such an extravagant manner that Archie remonstrated. She took his interference in a good, humid way, but still arranged things as she intended, and when her house was ready, waited for her friends to call on her and prepared to amuse herself with the comedy of human life. She had not longed to wait, for a perfect deluge of affectionate people rolled down upon her. Many remembered her, oh, quite well, when she was the beautiful Miss Curtis, and then her husband, that dreadful Villiers, they hoped he was dead, squandering her fortune as he had done. They had always been sorry for her, and now she was rich, that lovely Pectulus, indeed, she deserved it all. She would marry, of course, oh, but indeed, she must. And so the comedy went on, and all the actors flirted and ogled, and nodded and bowed, and Madame Midas was quite sick of the falseness and frivolity of the whole thing. She knew these people, with their simpering and smiling, would visit her and eat her dinners and drink her wines, and then go away and abuse her thoroughly. But then Madame Midas never expected anything else, so she received them with smiles, saw through all their little ways, and when she had amused herself sufficiently with their antics, she let them go. Vanderloop called on Madame Midas the day after she arrived, and Mrs Villiers was delighted to see him. Having an object in view, of course, Gaston made himself as charming as possible, and assisted Madame to arrange her house, told her about the people who called on her, and made cynical remarks about them, all of which amused Madame Midas mightily. She grew weary of the inane gavel and narrow understandings of people, and it was quite a relief for her to turn to Vanderloop, with his keen tongue and clever brains. Gaston was not a charitable talker. Few really clever talkers are, but he saw through everyone with the uttermost ease, and sum them up in a sharp, incisive way, which had at least the merit of being clever. Madame Midas liked to hear him talk, and seeing what humbugs the people who surrounded her were, and how well she knew their motives in courting her for her wealth, it is not to be wondered at that she should have been amused at having all their little weaknesses laid bare and classified by such a master of satire as Vanderloop. So they sat and watched the comedy and the unconscious actors playing their parts, and felt that the air was filled with heavy sensuous perfume, and the lights were garish, and that there was wanting entirely that keen cool atmosphere, which Malloch calls the ozone of respectability. Vanderloop had prospered in his little venture in the mining market, third true to the prediction of Mr. Barraclough, who, by the way, was very much astonished at the sudden demand for shares by poll graves, and vainly pumped that reticent individual to find out what he was up to. The Magpie Reef shares ran up rapidly. A telegram was published from the manager, stating a rich reef had been struck. Specimens of the very richest kind were displayed in Melbourne, and the confiding public suddenly woked to the fact that a golden tide was flowing past their doors. They rushed the share market, and in two weeks the Magpie Reef shares ran from four shillings to as many pounds. Vanderloop intended to sell at one pound, but when he saw the rapid rise and heard everyone talking about this reef, which was to be a second long tunnel, he held his shares till they touched four pounds. Then quite satisfied with his profit, he sold out at once and pocketed nearly ten thousand pounds so that he was provided for the rest of his life. The shares ran up still higher to four pounds ten shillings, then dropped to three, in consequence of certain rumours that the pocket of gold was worked out. Then another rich lead was struck, and they ran up again to five pounds, and afterwards sunk to two pounds, which gradually became their regular price in the market. That barricade and his friend did well was sufficiently proved by the former taking a trip to Europe, while his friend bought a station and set up as a squatter. They, however, never knew how cleverly Monsour Vanderloop had turned their conversation to his advantage, and that young gentleman, now that he had made a decent sum, determined to touch gold mining no more, and unlike many people, he kept his word. Now that he was a man of means, Vanderloop half decided to go to America as a larger field for a gentleman of his brilliant qualities, but the arrival of Madame Midas in Melbourne made him alter his mind. Her husband was no doubt dead, so Gaston thought that as soon as she had settled down he would begin to pay his court to her, and without doubt would be accepted for this confident young man never for a moment dreamed of failure. Meanwhile he sent all kiddies wardrobe after her as she went with the Waffles family, and the poor girl, taking this as a mark of renewed affection, wrote him a very tearful little note, which Monsour Vanderloop threw into the fire. Then he looked about and ultimately got a very handsome suite of rooms in Clarratt and Street East Melbourne. He furnished these richly and having invested his money in good securities, prepared to enjoy himself. Kitty, meanwhile, had become a great favourite with the Waffles family, and they made a wonderful pet of her. Of course, being in Rome, she did as the Romans did and went on the stage as Miss Kathleen Waffles, being endowed with the family name for dramatic reasons. The family were now on tour among the small towns of Victoria and seemed to be well known as each member got a reception when he or she appeared on the stage. Mr Theodore Waffles used to send his agent ahead to engage the theatre, or more often a hall, build the town, and publish sensational little notices in the local papers. Then when the family arrived, Mr Waffles, who was really a gentleman and well educated, called on all the principal people of the town and so impressed them with the high class character at the entertainment that he never failed to secure their patronage. He also had a number of artful little schemes which he called wheezes, the most successful of these being a lecture on the religious teaching of Shakespeare, which he invariably delivered on a Sunday afternoon in the theatre of any town he happened to be in, and not infrequently when requested occupied the pulpit and preached capital sermons. By these means Mr Waffles kept up the reputation of the family and the other classes of all the towns invariably supported the show, while the lower classes came as a matter of course. Mr Waffles, however, was equally as clever in providing a bill of fare as in inducing the public to come to the theatre, and the adaptability of the family was really wonderful. One night they would play far to call comedy, then Hamlet reduced to four acts by Mr Waffles would follow on the second night. The next night Burlesque would reign supreme, and when the curtain arose on the fourth night, Mr Waffles and the star artistes would be acting melodrama and throw one another off bridges and do strong starvation business with ragged clothes amid paper snow storms. Kitty turned out to be a perfect treasure as her pretty face and charming voice soon made her a favourite, and when in Burlesque she played princess to Fanny Waffles Prince there was sure to be a crowded house and lots of applause. Kitty's voice was clear and sweet as a lark's and her execution something wonderful, so Mr Waffles christened her the Australian Nightingale and caused her to be so advertised in the papers. Moreover her dainty appearance, a certain dash and abandon she had with her carried the audience irresistibly away and had Fanny Waffles not been a really good girl she would have been jealous of the success achieved by the newcomer. She however taught Kitty to dance breakdowns and at Warnable they had a benefit when Forced M.D. was produced and Fanny sang her great success. I've just had a row with Mama and Kitty sung the dual song from Forced in a manner worthy of Nielsen as the local critic who had never heard Nielsen said the next day. All together Kitty fully repaid the good action of Mr Waffles by making his tour a wonderful success and the family returned to Melbourne in high glee with full pockets. Next year, said Mr Waffles, at a supper which they had to celebrate the success of their tour we'll have a theatre in Melbourne and I'll make it the favourite house of the city, see if I don't. It seemed therefore as though Kitty had found her vocation and would develop into an operatic star but fate intervened and Miss Marchhurst retired from the stage which she had adorned so much. This was due to Madame Midas who driving down Cullen Street one day saw Kitty at the corner walking with Fanny Waffles. She immediately stopped her carriage and a lighting there from went straight up to the girl who turning and seeing her for the first time grew deadly pale. Kitty, my dear, said Madame Gravely I had been looking for you vainly for a year but I have found you at last. Kitty's breast was full of conflicting emotions she thought that Madame knew all about her intimacy with Vanderloop and that she would speak severely to her Mrs Villiers next words however reassured her you left Ballarat to go on the stage did you not she said kindly looking at the girl why did you not come to me you knew I was always your friend yes Madame said Kitty putting out her hand and averting her head I would have come to you but I thought you would stop me from going my dear child replied Madame I thought you knew me better than that what theatre are you at she's with us said Miss Fanny who had been staring at this grave handsomely dressed lady who had a lighted from such a swell carriage we are the Waffles family ah said Miss Villiers thinking I remember you were up at Ballarat last year well Kitty were you and your friend drive down to St Kilda with me and I'll show you my new house Kitty would have refused for she was afraid Madame Midas would perhaps send her back to her father but the appealing looks of Fanny Waffles who had never ridden in a carriage in her life and was dying to do so decided her to accept so they stepped into the carriage and Mrs Villiers told the coachman to drive home as they drove along Mrs Villiers delicately refrained from asking Kitty any questions about her plight seeing that a stranger was present but determined to find out all about it when she got her alone down at St Pilda Kitty on her part was thinking how to baffle Madame's inquiries she knew she would be questioned closely by her and resolved not to tell more than she could help as she curiously enough considering how he had treated her wished to shield Vanderloop but she still cherished a tender feeling for that man she loved and had Vanderloop asked her to go back and live with him would no doubt have consented the fact was the girl's nature was becoming slightly demoralised and the Kitty who sat looking at Madame Midas now though her face was as pretty and her eyes as pure as ever was not the same innocent Kitty that had visited the patchelos for she had eaten of the tree of knowledge and was already cultured in worldly wisdom Madame of course believed that Kitty had gone from Bella Rat straight on to the stage and never thought for a moment that for a whole year she had been Vanderloop's mistress so when Kitty found this out as she very soon did she took the cue at once and asserted positively to Madame that she had been on the stage for 18 months that how is it asked Madame who believed her fully that I could not find you because I was up the country all the time replied Kitty quickly and of course did not act under my real name you would not like to go back to your father I suppose suggested Madame Kitty made a gesture of dissent no she answered determinedly I was tired of my father and his religion I'm on the stage now and I mean to stick to it Kitty Kitty said Madame sadly you little know the temptations oh yes I do interrupted Kitty impatiently I've been nearly two years on the stage and I have not seen any great wickedness besides I'm always with Mrs Waffles then you still mean to be an actress asked Madame yes replied Kitty in a firm voice if I went back to my father I'd go mad leading that dull life but why not stay with me my dear said Mrs Villiers looking at her I am a lonely woman as you know and if you come to me I will treat you as a daughter ah how good you are cried the girl in a revulsion of feeling falling on a friend's neck but indeed I cannot leave the stage I'm too fond of it Madame sighed and gave up the argument for a time then showed the two girls all over the house and after they had dinner with her she sent them back to town in her carriage with strict injunctions to Kitty to come down next day and bring Mr Waffles with her when the two girls reached the hotel where the family was staying then he gave her father a glowing account of the opulence of Madame Midas and Mr Waffles was greatly interested in the whole affair he was grave however when Kitty spoke to him privately of what Madame had said to her and asked her if she would not like to accept Mrs Villiers offer Kitty however said she would remain on the stage and as Waffles was to see Madame Midas next day made him promise he would say nothing about having found her on the streets or of her living with a lover Waffles who thoroughly understood the girl's desire to hide her shame from her friends agreed to this so Kitty went to bed confident that she had saved van der loop's name from being draved into the affair Waffles saw Madame next day and a long talk ensued which ended in Kitty agreeing to stay six months with Mrs Villiers and then if she still wished to continue on the stage she was to go to Mr Waffles on the other hand in consideration of Waffles losing the services of Kitty Madame promised that next year she would give him sufficient money to start a theatre in Melbourne so both parted mutually satisfied Kitty made presents to all the family who were very sorry to part with her and then took up her abode with Mrs Villiers as a kind of adopted daughter and was quite prepared to play her part in the comedy of fashion so Madame Midas had been near the truth yet never discovered it and sent a letter to van der loop asking him to come to dinner and meet an old friend little thinking how old an intimate a friend Kitty was to the young man it was as Mr Waffles would have said a highly dramatic situation but alas that the confiding nature of Madame Midas should thus have been betrayed not only by van der loop but by Kitty herself the very girl whom out of womanly compassion she took to her breast and yet the world talks about the inherent goodness of human nature End of part two Chapter seven Part two Chapter eight of Madame Midas this Libra Vox recording is in the public domain Madame Midas by Fergus Hume Part two Chapter eight Monsieur van der loop is surprised owing to the quiet life Kitty had led since she came to Melbourne and the fact that her appearance on the stage had taken place in the country she felt quite safe when making her appearance in Melbourne society that no one would recognise her or know anything of her past life it was unlikely she would meet with any at the pool chop family again and she knew Mr Waffles would hold his tongue regarding his first meeting with her so the only one who could reveal anything about her would be van der loop and he would certainly be silent for his own sake as she knew he valued the friendship of Madame Midas too much to lose it nevertheless she awaited his coming in considerable trepidation and she was still in love with him and was nervous as to what reception she would meet with perhaps now that she occupied a position as Mrs Villiers adopted daughter he would marry her but at all events when she met him she would know exactly how he felt towards her by his dominion van der loop on the other hand was quite unaware of the surprise in store for him and thought that the old friend he was to meet would be some Ballarat acquaintance of his own and madams in his wildest flight of fancy he never thought it would be Kitty else his cool nonchalance would for once have been upset at the thought of the two women he was interested in being under the same roof however where ignorance is bliss well, Monsue van der loop after dressing himself carefully in evening dress put on his hat and coat and the evening being a pleasant one thought he would stroll through the Fitzroy Gardens down to the station it was pleasant in the gardens under the golden light of the sunset and the green arcades of trees looked delightfully cool after the glare of the dusty streets van der loop strolling along idly felt a touch on his shoulder and wheeled round suddenly filled with his past life ever before him he always had a haunting dread that had been recaptured the man, however who had thus drawn his attention was none other than Pierre Lemaire who stood in the centre at the broad Ashfalt path dirty, ragged and disreputable looking he had not altered much since he left Bellarat save that he looked more delipidated looking but stood there in his usual sullen manner with his hat down over his eyes some stray wisps of grass showed that he had been camping out all the hot day on the green turf under the shadow of the trees and it was easy to see from his appearance what a vagrant he was van der loop was annoyed at the meeting and cast a rapid look around to see if he was observed the few people, however parting were too intent on their own business to give more than a passing glance at the dusty tramp and the young man in evening dress talking to him so van der loop was reassured well my friend he said sharply to the dumb man what do you want? Pierre put his hand in his pocket oh of course replied Monsieur van der loop confidently money money always money do you think I'm a bank always to be drawn on like this the dumb man made no sign that he had heard but stood sullenly rocking himself to and fro and chewing a wisp of the grass he had picked off his coat here said the young man taking out a sovereign and giving it to Pierre take this just now and don't bother me or upon my word with a disdainful look I shall positively have to hand you over to the law Pierre glanced up sullenly and van der loop caught the gleam of his eyes under the shadow of the hat oh you think it will be dangerous for me he said in a gay tone not at all I assure you I am a gentleman and rich helper and disreputable who will believe your word against mine my faith your assurance is quite refreshing now go away and don't trouble me again or with a sudden keen glance I will do as I say he nodded coolly to the dumb man and strode gaily along under the shade of the heavily foliageed oaks while Pierre looked at the sovereign slipped it into his pocket and slouched off in the opposite direction without even a glance at his patron at the top of the street van der loop stepped into a cab and telling the man to drive to some killedest station in elizabeth street went off in a brown study Pierre annoyed him seriously as he never seemed to get rid of him and the dumb man kept turning up every now and then like the mummy at the egyptian feast to remind him of the unpleasant things couldn't found him muttered van der loop angrily as he alighted at the station and paid the cabman he's more troubled than be be was she did take the hint and go but this man my faith shrugging his shoulders he's the devil himself for sticking all the way down to some killeda his reflections were of the same unpleasant nature and he cast about in his own mind how he could get rid of this personatious friend he could not turn him off openly as Pierre might take offence and as he knew more at montseau van der loop's private life than that young gentleman cared about it would not do to run the risk of an exposure there's only one thing to be done said gaston quietly as he walked down to mrs billier's house i will try my luck at marrying madame mitis if she consents we can go away to europe as man and wife if she does not i will go to america and in either case Pierre will lose trace of me with this comfortable reflection he went into the house and was shown into the drawing room by the servant there were no lights in the room as it was not sufficiently dark for them and van der loop smiled as he saw a fire in the grate my faith he said to himself madame is as chilly as ever the servant had retired and he was all by himself in this large room with the subdued twilight all through it and the flicker of the flames he went to the fire more from habit than anything else and suddenly came on a big armchair drawn up close to the side in which a woman was sitting ah the sleeping beauty said van der loop carelessly in these cases the proper thing to do in order to wake the lady is to kiss her he was without doubt an extremely audacious young man and though he did not know who the young lady was would certainly have put his design into execution had not the white figure suddenly rose and confronted him the light from the fire was fair on her face and with the sudden start van der loop saw before him the girl he had ruined and deserted baby he gasped recalling a step yes said kitty in an agitated tone your mistress and your victim bah! said Gaston Cooley having recovered from the first shock of surprise that style suits Sarah Bernard not you my dear the first act of this comedy is excellent but it is necessary the characters should know one another in order to finish the play bah! said Kitty with a bitter smile do I not know you too well as the man who promised me marriage and then broke his word you forgot all your vows to me my dear child replied Gaston Cooley leaning up against the mantelpiece if you had read Belzak you would discover that he says life would be intolerable without a certain amount of forgetting I must say smiling I agree with the novelist Kitty looked at him as he stood there cool and complacent and threw herself back into the chair angrily just the same she muttered restlessly just the same of course replied van der loop raising his eyebrows in surprise you have only been away from me six weeks and it takes longer than that to alter anyone by the way he went on smoothly how have you been all this time I have no doubt your tour has been as adventurous as that of Gilbias no it has not replied Kitty clenching her hands you never cared what became of me and had not Mr Wapples met me in the street on that fearful night God knows where I would have been now I can tell you said Gaston Cooley taking a seat with me you would have soon got tired of the property on the streets and come back to your cage my cage indeed she echoed bitterly tapping the ground with her foot yes a cage though it was a gilded one how biblical you are getting a man ironically but kindly stop speaking in parables and tell me what position we are to occupy to each other as formally my god no she flashed out suddenly so much better he answered Bowie we will obliterate the last year from our memories and I will meet you tonight for the first time since you left Ballarat consciously you have told Madam Nothing only what suited me replied the girl Cooley stung by the coldness and utter heartlessness of this man oh with a smile did it include my name no curtly ah with a long in drawn breath you are more sensible than I gave you credit for Kitty rose to her feet kindly over to where he sat calm and smiling Gaston van der loop she hissed in his ear while her face was quite distorted by the violence of her passion when I met you I was an innocent girl you ruined me and then cast me off as soon as you grew weary of your toy I thought you loved me and with a stifled sob God help me do you still yes my baby he said in a caressing tone taking her hand no no she cried wrenching them away while an angry spot of colour glowed on her cheek I loved you as you were not as you are now we are done with sentiment Montseua van der loop she said sneering and now our relations to one another happily business once he bowed and smiled so glad you understand the position he said blamely I see the age of miracles is not yet past when a woman can talk sense you won't disturb me with your snares retorted the girl glaring fiercely at him out of the gathering gloom in the room I am not the innocent girl I once was it is needless to tell me that he said coarsely she drew herself up at the extreme insult have a care Gaston she muttered hurriedly I know more about your past life than you think he rose from his seat and approached his face now wide as her own to hers what do you know he asked in a low passionate voice enough to be dangerous to you retorted defiantly they both looked at one another steadily but the white face of the woman did not blench before the scintillations of his eyes what you know I don't know he said steadily but whatever it is keep it to yourself or catching her wrist or what she asked boldly he threw her away from him with a laugh I died out of his eyes but he said gaily our comedy is turning into a tragedy I am as foolish as you I think significantly we understand one another yes I think we do she answered calmly the colour coming back to her cheek neither of us are to refer to the past and we both go on on different roads unhindered madam asel marchhurst said van der loop ceremoniously I am delighted to meet you after a year's absence come with a gay laugh let us begin the comedy thus to hear he added quickly as the door opened here comes the spectators well young people said madam's voice as she came slowly into the room you are all in the dark bell for the lights once you were van der loop certainly madam he answered touching the electric button miss marchhurst and myself were renewing our former friendship how do you think she is looking asked madam as the servant came in and lit the gas charming replied van der loop looking at the dainty little figure in white standing under the blaze of the chandelier she is more beautiful than ever kitty made a saucy little curtsy and burst into a musical laugh he is just the same madam she said merrily to the tall grey woman in black velvet who's still looking at her affectionately full of compliments and not meaning one but when is dinner to be ready pathetically I'm dying of starvation I hope you have pictures madam said van der loop gaily the first time I met madam asel she was longing for pictures I am unchanged in that respect retorted kitty brightly I adore pictures still I'm just waiting for mr. kelton said madam miters looking at her watch he ought to be here by now is that the lawyer madam asked van der loop yes she replied quietly he's a most delightful man so I have heard answered van der loop nonchalantly and he had something to do with the former owner of this house I think oh don't talk of that said mrs. Villiers nervously the first time I took the house I heard all about the handsome cab murder why madam you are not nervous said kitty gaily no my dear replied the elder quietly but I must confess that for some reason or another I have been a little upset since coming here I don't like being alone you shall never be that said kitty fondly nestling to her thank you puss said madam tapping her cheek but I am nervous she said rapidly at night especially sometimes I have to get Selena to come into my room and say all night Madam Midas nervous thought van der loop to himself then I can guess the reason she is afraid of her husband coming back to her just at this moment the servant announced mr. Colton and he entered with his sharp incisive face looking clever and keen I must apologise for being late mrs. Villiers he said shaking hands with his hostess the business you know the pleasure of business now said madam quickly I hope you have come to the business of pleasure very epigrammatic my dear lady said Colton in his high clear voice pray introduce me madam did so and they all went to dinner madam and Colton and kitty this observed Colton when they were all seated at the dinner table is the perfection of dining for we are four and the guests according to an epicure should never be less than the graces nor greater than the muses and the very merry little dinner it was all four were clever talkers and van der loop and Colton being pitted against one another excelled themselves which he remarks satirical sayings and well told stories were constantly coming from their lips and they told their stories as their own and did not father them on Sidney Smith if Sidney Smith was alive said Colton in reference to this he would be astonished at the number of stories he did not tell yes chimed in van der loop gaily and astounded at their brilliancy after all said madam smiling here's the sheet anchor for some people for the best original story may fail as they'll one ascribe to Sidney Smith must produce a laugh why ask kitty in some wonder because explained Colton gravely society goes mainly by tradition and our grandmothers having laughed at Sidney Smith's jokes they must necessarily be amusing depend upon it jokes can be sanctified by time quite as much as creeds they are more amusing at all events said madam satirically creeds generally cause quarrels van der loop shrugged his shoulders and quarrels generally cause stories he said smiling it is the law of compensation they then went to the drawing room and kitty and van der loop both sung and treated one another in a delightfully polite way madam Midas and Colton were both clever but how much cleverer were the two young people at the piano are you going to metal chips ball? said Colton to madam oh yes she answered nodding her head I and Miss Marchhurst are both going who is Mr. Metal Chip? asked Kitty swinging round on the piano stool he is the most charitable man in Melbourne said Gaston with a faint sneer great is Diana at the Apesians said Colton mockingly because Mr. Metal Chip suffers from too much money and has to get rid of it to prevent himself being crushed like to peer by the sublime shields he is called charitable he does good though doesn't he? asked madam see advertisement scoff Colton oh yes he will give thousands of pounds for any public object but private charity is a waste of money in his eyes you are very hard on him said Madam Midas with a laugh I Mr. Colton believes as I do cried van der loop that it's no good having friends unless it's your privilege to abuse them it's one new take full advantage of then observe Kitty I always take what I can get he returned mockingly whereupon she shivered and Colton saw it I said the astute reader a character to himself there's something between those two Gat I'll cross examine my French friend they said good night to the ladies and walked to the St Kilda station from thence took the train to town and Colton put into force his cross examination he might as well have tried his artful questions on a rock as on van der loop for that clever young gentleman saw through the barrister at once and baffled him at every turn with his epigrammatic answers and consummate coolness I confessed said Colton when they said good night to one another I confess you puzzle me language observed once you were van der loop with a smile was given to us to conceal our thoughts good night and no parted the comedy is over for the night thought Gaston as you walked along and it was so true to nature that the spectators never thought it was art he was wrong for Colton did end of part two chapter eight part two chapter nine and made of Midas this liberal box recording is in the public domain made of Midas by Fergus Hume part two chapter nine a professional philanthropist we have professional diners out professional beauties professional Christians there may not professional philanthropists this brilliant century of ours has nothing to do with the word charity as it savers too much of stealthy benevolence so it has substituted in its place the long word philanthropy which is much more gentile and comprehensive charity the meekest of Christian graces has been long since dethroned and her place is taken by the blatant braggard philanthropy who does his good deeds in a most ostentatious manner and loudly invites the will to see his generosity and praise him for it charity modestly hooded went into the houses of the poor and tended her gifts with smiles philanthropy now builds elm houses and hospitals and rails at poverty if it has too much pride to occupy them and what indeed has poverty to do with pride it's far too sumptuous and expensive an article and can only be possessed by the rich who can afford to wear it because it is paid for Mr.Metalchip was rich so he bought a large stock of pride and wore it everywhere it was not personal pride he was not good looking it was not family pride he never had a grandfather nor was it pecuniary pride he had too much money for that but it was a mean sneaking insinuating pride that wrapped him round like a cloak he wanted to be very humble and only holding its money in trust for the poor the poor ye have always with you did not Mr.Metalchip know it asked the old men and women in the elm houses and they would answer yes but asked the squalid inhabitants of the slums and they would probably say metalchip is a not that the great Mr.Metalchip was unknown oh do you know he was a representative colonial he sat in parliament and frequently spoke at those enlarged best three meetings about the prosperity of the country he laid foundation stones he took the chair at public meetings in fact he had his finger in every public pie likely to bring him into no notoriety but not in private pies oh dear no he never did could by self and blush to find it fame any blushes he might have had would have been angry ones at his good deed not being known he had come in the early days of the colony and made a lot of money being a shrewd man and one who took advantage of men he was honest that is honest as our present elastic exception of the word goes and when he had accumulated a fortune he set to work to buy a few things he bought a grand house at Turac then he bought a wife to do the honours of the grand house and when his domestic affairs were quite settled he bought popularity the cheapest thing anyone can buy when the society for the supplying of aborigines with the white waist coats were started he headed the list with 1000 pounds bravo metal chip the secretary of the band of hard up matrons asked him for 50 pounds and got 500 generous metal chip and at the meeting of the society of oppression a vice among married men he gave 2000 pounds and made a speech on the occasion which made all married men present, tremble bless their sins should find them out noble metal chip he would give thousands away in public charity have it well advertised in the newspapers and then wonder with humility the nation got there and he would give a poor woman in charge for asking for a penny on the ground that she was a vagrant here indeed was a man for Victoria to be proud of put up a statue to him in the centre of the city let all the skilled children study a list of his noble actions as lessons let the public at large grovel before him he posed as the first of his benevolent shoes for he is a professional philanthropist Mrs metal chip large florid and loud forest was equally as well known as a husband but in a different way he posed as benevolence she was the type of all that's fashionable that is she knew everyone gave large parties went out to balls parties and lawn tennis and dressed in the very latest style whether it suited her or not she had been born and brought up in the colonies but when her husband went to London as a representative colonial she went also and stayed there a whole year after which she came out to a native land and ran everything down in the most merciless manner they did not do this in England oh dear no nothing so common the people in Melbourne had such dreadfully vulgar manners but then of course they are not English there was no aristocracy even the dogs and horses were different they had not the stamp of centuries of birth and breeding on them in fact to hear Mrs metal chip talk that England was the perfect aristocratic paradise and Victoria a vulgar other place she totally ignored the marvellously rapid growth of the country and that the men and women in it were actually the men and women who had built it up year by year so that even now it was taking its place among the nations of the earth but Mrs metal chip was too far too ladylike and fashionable for troubling about such things oh dear no she left all these dry facts to Evanser who could speak about them in his own pompous blatant style at public meetings this lady was one of those modern inventions known as the frisky matron and said and did all manner of dreadful things which people winked at she was Mrs metal chip and eccentric she had a young man always dangling after her at theaters and dances sometimes one sometimes another but there was one who was the fixture this was Barty Jarpa who acted as a poodle dog and fetched and carried for her in the most amiable manner when any new poodle dog came on the scene Barty would meekly resign his position and retire into the background until such time as he was whistled back again to go through his antics Barty attended her everywhere made up her programs wrote out her invitations dance with her so ever he was told and was rewarded for all these services by being given the crumbs from the rich man's table Mr Jarpa had a meek little way with Mrs metal chip as if he was constantly apologizing for having dared to have come into the world without her permission but to other people he was rude enough and in his own mean little soul looked upon himself quite as a man of fashion how he managed to go about as he did was a standing puzzle to his friends as he got only a small salary at the hibernian bank yet he was to be seen at bulls, theatres tennis parties constantly driving about in handsoms in fact lived as if he had an independent income the general opinion was that he was supplied with money by Mrs metal chip which others said he gambled and indeed but he was rather clever at throwing sixes and frequently at the bachelor's club won a sufficient sum to give him a new suit of clothes or pay his club subscription for the year he was one of those bubbles which danced on the surface of society yet are sure to vanish some day and if God tempered the wind to any particular shorn lamb that shorn lamb was Vaati Japa the metal chips were giving a ball therefore the mansion at Turak was brilliantly illuminated and crowded with fashionable people the ballroom was at the side of the house and from it French windows opened on to a wide brander which was enclosed with drapery and hung with many coloured Chinese lanterns beyond this the smooth green lawns stretched away to a thick fringe of trees which grew beside the fence and screened the metal chip residents from the curious gaze of vulgar eyes Kitty came under the guardianship of Mrs Rilla a young matron with dark hair an imperious manner and a young man always at her heels Mrs Villiers intended to have come but at the last moment was seized with one of her nervous fits so decided to stop at home with Selena for company Kitty therefore accompanied Mrs Rilla to the ball but the guardianship of that lady was more nominal than anything else as she went off with Mr Belfort after introducing Kitty to Mrs Metal Chip and flirted and danced with him the whole evening Kitty however did not in the least mind being led to her own devices for being an extremely pretty girl she soon had plenty of young men round her anxious to be introduced she filled her program rapidly and kept two vultures for Vandaloop as she knew he was going to be present but he as yet had not made his appearance arrived at about quarter past 10 o'clock and was strolling leisurely up to the house when he saw Pierre standing amid a number of idlers at the gate the dumb man stepped forward and Vandaloop paused with a smile on his handsome lips though he was angry enough at the meeting money again I suppose he said to Pierre in a low voice in French don't trouble me now but come to my rooms tomorrow the dumb man nodded and Vandaloop walked leisurely up the path then Pierre followed him right up to the steps which led to the house saw him enter the brilliantly lighted hall and then hid himself in the shrubs which grew on the edge of the lawn there in close hiding he could hear the sound of music and voices and could see the door of the fernary wide open and called glimpses of dainty dresses and bare shoulders within Vandaloop quite ignorant that his friend was watching the house put on his gloves leisurely and walked in search of his hostess Mrs. Metalchip glanced approvingly at Vandaloop as he came up for he was extremely good looking and good looking men were Mrs. Metalchip's pet witness Barty was in attendance on his lead lady and when he saw how she admired Vandaloop he foresaw he would be of duty for some time it would be Vandaloop promoted, Vice Jarper resigned but Barty very well knew that Gaston was not a man to conduct himself like a poodle dog so came to the conclusion that he would be retained for use and Monsue of Vandaloop for ornament meanwhile he left Mrs. Metalchip to cultivate the acquaintance of the young Frenchman and went off with a red-haired girl to the supper room red-haired girl who was remarkably ugly and self complacent had been a wallflower all the evening but thought nonetheless of herself on that account she assured Barty she was not hungry but when she finished supper Mr. Jarper was very glad for the supper's sake she had no appetite she's the hungriest girl I ever met in my life he said to Belle Forb afterwards ate up everything I gave her and drunk so much lemonade I thought she'd go up like a balloon when Barty had satisfied the red-haired girl's appetite no easy matter he left her to play wallflower and made spiteful remarks on the girls who were dancing and took out another damsel who smiled and smiled and trod on his toes when he danced till he wished her in Jericho he asked if she was hungry but unlike the other girl she was not he said she must be tired but oh do you know she was quite fresh so she danced the whole wolf's through and bumped Barty against everyone in the room then said his step did not suit hers which exasperated him so much for Barty flattered himself on his wolfsy that he left her just as she was getting up a flotation and went to have a glass of champagne to soothe his feelings release from Mrs. Metalchip Gaston went in search for Kitty and found her flirting with Felix Rolston who was amusing her with his gay chatter this is a juice called looking chappy said Mr. Rolston fixing his eyeglass in his eye and looking critically at Gaston as he approached them Montseua Vandalook, isn't it? Kitty said it was oh yes went on Felix brightly saw him about town don't know him personally awfully like a fellow I once knew called Fitzgerald Brian Fitzgerald married now and got a family funny thing married Miss Spreadleby who used to live in your house oh that handsome cad murderer said Kitty looking at him I've heard all about that again I should think you had observed Mr. Rolston with a grin it was a nine days wonder but here's your friend introduce me pray as Vandalook came up Kitty did so and Felix improved the occasion knew you by sight he said shaking hands with Gaston but it's a case that we never speak as we pass by and all that sort of thing come and look me up hospitably South Yarra delighted see Gaston smoothly taking Kitty's program and putting his name down for the two vacant waltzes reciprocal I assure you said the lively Felix oh by Jove excuse me Miss Marchhurst there's a poker got to dance with a girl you'll see me in a minute she's a maypole I'm not haha you'll say it's the long and the short of it ta ta at present he hopped off Gailey and they soon saw him steering the maypole round the room or rather the maypole steering Felix the her idea of the dance was to let Felix get Gailey round her then she lifted him up and put him down a few feet further on when he again skipped and so the performance went on to the intense amusement of Kitty and Gaston my faith said Vandalook satirically dropping into a seat beside Kitty she is a maypole and he's a merry person dancing round by the way baby why isn't madam here tonight she's not well replied Kitty unfurling her fan I don't know what's come over her she's so nervous oh indeed said Vandalook politely um still afraid of her husband turning up he said to himself as Kitty was carried away by Mr Belfort how slow all this is he went on yawning and rising from his seat I shan't stay long or that old woman will be seizing me again poor Kestriak surely his sin has been punished enough in having such a wife and Monsour Vandalook strolled away to speak to Mrs Rilla who being bereft of Belfort was making signals to him with a fan Bharti Japa had been hard at work all night on the poodle dog system and had danced with girls who could not dance and talked with girls that could not talk so as a reward for his work he promised himself a dance with Kitty at the beginning of the evening he had secured a dance from her and now all his duties for the evening being over he went to get it Belfort had long since returned to Mrs Rilla and flirtation and Kitty had been dancing with a tall young man with unsteady legs and an eyeglass that would not stick in his eye she did not particularly care about Mr Japa with his effinent little ways but was quite glad when he came to carry her off the dance was the lances the Kitty declared she would not dance it as she felt weary so made Japa take her to suffer Bharti was delighted as he was hungry him so so they secured a pleasant little nook and Bharti foraged for provisions you know all about this house said Kitty when she saw how successful the young man was in getting nice things oh yes, Mermet Bharti quite delighted I know most of the houses in Melbourne I know yours Mrs Villiers asked Kitty Bharti nodded used to go down there a lot when Mr Prettleby lived there he said, sipping his wine I know every room in it you'd been valuable as a burglar said Kitty a little contemptuously as she looked at his slim figure I dare say replied Bharti who took the compliment in good faith some night I'll climb up to your room and give you a fright shows how much you know retorted Miss Marchus my room is next to madam's on the ground floor I know said Bharti safely nodding his head it used to be a boudoir nice little room by the way where is Mrs Villiers tonight she's not well replied Kitty yawning behind her fan for she was weary of Bharti any small talk she's very worried over money matters I suppose Kitty laughed and shook her head hardly she answered I dare say replied Bharti she's awfully rich you know I'm in the bank of the counties and I know all about her rich oh she is rich lucky thing for that French fellow if he marries her marries her echoed Kitty her face growing pale Monceau of Vanderloop yes replied Bharti pleased at having made a sensation her first husband has vanished you know and all the fellows have been marrying the grass widow what nonsense said Kitty in an agitated voice Monceau of Vanderloop is her friend nothing more Bharti grinned I've seen so much of that friendship and nothing more business he said significantly where upon Kitty rose to her feet I'm tired she said coldly kindly take me to Mrs Rilla I've put my foot into it thought Japa as he let her away I believe she spoons on Van herself Mrs Rilla was not very pleased to see Kitty as Mr Belfort was telling her some amusing scandals about her dearest friends and of course had to stop when Kitty came up not dancing dear she asked with a sympathetic smile glancing angrily at Belfort who seemed more struck with Kitty than he had any right to be considering he was her property no replied Kitty I'm a little tired Miss Marchhurst observed Belfort leaning towards her I'm sure I've seen you before Kitty felt a chill running through her veins as she remembered where the last meeting had been the extremity the danger gave her courage I daresay she replied coldly turning her back on the young man I'm not invisible Mrs Rilla looked with all her eyes for she wanted to know all about this pretty girl who dropped so unexpectedly into Melbourne society so she determined to question Belfort when she got him alone to this end she finessed there's that lovely vaults she said as the band struck up one summer's night in Munich if you are not engaged Mr Belfort we must have a turn delighted replied Belfort languidly offering his arm but thinking meanwhile confound these women how they do work a man you I suppose said Mrs Rilla to Kitty I'm going to play wallflower hardly observed a cool voice behind them Miss Marchers dances this with me you see Mrs Rilla as that lady turned and saw found a loop she has not your capability at playing wallflower with a significant glance at Belfort Mrs Rilla understood the look which seemed to pierce into the very depths of her frivolous little soul and flushed angrily as she moved away with Mr Belfort and mentally determined to be even with Bandaloupe on the first occasion gassed in quiet conscience of the storm he had raised smiled serenely and then offered his arm to Kitty which she refused as she was determined to find out from his own lips the truth of Java's statement regarding Madame Midas I don't want to dance she said curtly pointing to the seat beside her as an invitation for him to sit down pardon me observed Bandaloupe Blanley 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 one summer's night in Munich was the favourite Bolts and everyone who could dance and a good many who could not were up on the floor every now and then through the steady beat of the music came the light laugh of a woman or the deeper tones of a man's voice and the glare of the lights the flashing jewels on the bare necks and arms of women the soft pro-fro of their dresses as their partners swung them steadily round and the subtle perfume of flowers gave an indescribable sensuous flavour to the whole scene and the Bolts who does not know it with its sad refrain which comes in every now and then throughout even in the most brilliant passages every every man's faith and a woman's treachery is contained therein one summer's night in Munich side the heavy bass instruments sadly and reproachfully I thought your heart was true listen to the melancholy notes of the prelude which recall the whole scene do you not remember the stars are shining the night wind is blowing the terrace looking down on the glittering lights of the city harp the joyous sparkling strain full of riot laughter recalls the sad students who wandered past and then from amid the airy ripple of notes comes the sweet mellow strain of the cello which tells the blub eternal amid the summer roses how the tender melody of the perfume and mystic meanings of that night hark is that the nightingale in the trees or only the silvery notes of a violin which comes stealing through the steady throb and swing at the heavier stringed instruments I why does the rhythm stop a few chords breaking up the dream the sound of a bugle calling you away and the rose goes into the farewell motive with its tender longing and passionate anguish goodbye you will be true your heart is mine goodbye sweet heart stop that discord of angry notes she is false to a soldier lover the stars are pale the nightingale is silent the rose leaves fall and the sad refrain comes stealing through the room again with its bitter reproach one summer's night in munich I knew your heart was false kitty danced for a little time but was too much agitated to enjoy the false in spite of the admirable partner mon sure vandal loop made she was determined to find out the truth so stopped abruptly and insisted on vandal loop taking her to the conservatory what for he asked as they threaded their way through the crowded room is it important very she replied looking straight at him it is essential to our comedy mon sure vandal loop shrugged his shoulders my faith he murmured as they entered the fernary this comedy is becoming monotonous end of part 2 chapter 9 part 2 chapter 10 of madame mitis this libra vox recording is in the public domain madame mitis by fergus hume part 2 chapter 10 in the fernary the fernary was a huge glass building on one side of the ballroom filled with Australian and New Zealand ferns and having a large fountain in the centre sending up a sparkling jet of water which fell into the shallow stone basin filled with water lilies and their pure white flowers at the end was a mimic representation of a mountain torrent with real water tumbling down real rocks and here and there in the crannies and crevices grew delicate little ferns while overhead were the great fronds of the tree ferns the roof was a dense mass of greenery and wire baskets filled with sinuous creepers hanging down with their contents straggling over electric lights in green globes were skillfully hidden all round and a faint aquamarine twilight permitted the whole place and made it look of the sea here and there were delightful nooks with well cushioned seats many of which were occupied by pretty girls and their attendant cavaliers on one side of the fernary a wide door opened onto a low terrace from which steps went down to the lawn and beyond was the dark fringe of trees wherein Pierre was concealed Betty and Vanderloop found a very comfortable nook just opposite the door and they could see the white gleam of the terrace in the luminous starlight every now and then a couple would pass black silhouettes against the clear sky and around they could hear the murmur of voices and the musical tinkling of the fountain while the melancholy music of the vaults sounded through the pale green twilight Barty Jarper was talking near them in his mild little way to a tall young lady in a bilious looking green dress and further off Mr. Belfort was laughing with Mrs. Rilla behind the friendly shelter of her fan well said Vanderloop amiably as he sunk into a seat beside Kitty what is this great matter you wish to speak about Madame Midas retorted Kitty looking straight at him such a delightful subject, murmured Gaston closing his eyes as he guessed what was coming go on I'm all attention you are going to marry her said Miss Marchhurst bending towards him and closing her fan with a snap Vanderloop smiled faintly you don't say so he murmured opening his eyes and looking at her lazily who told you this news for news it is to me I assure you then it's not true asked Kitty eagerly with the kind of gasp I'm sure I don't know he replied indently fingering his moustache I haven't asked her yet you are not going to do so with the flush on her face why not in surprise do you object object my God she ejaculated in a low fizz tone have you forgotten what we are to one another friends I understand he said looking at his hands admiringly and something more she added bitterly lovers don't talk so loud my dear replied Vanderloop Curly it doesn't do to let everyone know your private business it's private now she said in a voice of passion but it will soon be public enough indeed which paper do you advertise in listen to me Gaston she said taking no notice of the sneer you will never marry Madame Midas sooner than that you'll all and kill myself you forget he said gently it is comedy not tragedy we play that is as I choose she retorted see and with a sudden gesture she put her hand into the bosom of her dress and took out the bottle of poison with the red bands I have it still so I perceive he answered smiling do you always carry it out with you like a modern Lucretia Borgia yes she answered quietly it never leaves me you see with the sneer as you said yourself it's always well to be prepared for emergencies so it appears observed Vanderloop with the yarn sitting up I wouldn't use that poison if I were you it is risky oh no it's not it is fatal in its results and leaves no trace behind there you are wrong replied Gaston Cooley it does leave traces behind but makes it appear as if apoplexy was the cause of death give me the bottle peremptily no she answered defiantly clenching it in her hand I say yes he said in an angry whisper that poison is my secret and I'm not going to have you play fast and loose with it give it up and he placed his hand on her wrist you hurt my wrist she said I'll break your wrist my darling he said quietly if you don't give me that bottle Kitty wrenched her hand away and rose to her feet sooner than that I'll throw it away she said and before he could stop her she flung the bottle out onto the lawn where it fell down near the trees but I will find it he said springing to his feet but Kitty was too quick for him Monsieur van der loop she said aloud so that everyone could hear kindly take me back to the ballroom will you to finish our vaults van der loop would have refused but she had his arm as everyone was looking at him he could not refuse without being guilty of marked discuracy Kitty had beaten him with his own weapons so with a half admiring glance at her he took her back to the ballroom where the waltz was just standing at all events he said in her ear as they went smoothly gliding round the room you won't be able to do any mischief with it now to yourself or to anyone else won't I she retorted quickly I have some more at home the juice he ejaculated yes she replied triumphantly the bottle I got belonged to you I put half its contents into another so you see I can still do mischief and in a fierce whisper I will if you don't give up this idea admiring Madame Midas I thought you knew me better than that he said in a tone of concentrated passion I will not then I'll poison her she retorted what the woman who has been so kind to you yes I'd rather see her dead than married to a devil like you how amiable you are baby he said with a laugh as the music stopped I am what you have made me she replied bitterly and they walked into the drawing room after this Vanderloop clearly saw that it was a case of diamond cut diamond the kitty was becoming as clever with her tongue as he was after all though she was his pupil and was getting as hardened and cynical as possible he did not think it fair she should use his own weapons against himself he did not believe she would try and poison Madame Midas even though she was certain of not being detected for he thought she was too tender-hearted but alas he had taught her excellently well and kitty was rapidly arriving at the conclusion he had long since come to that number one was the greatest number besides her love for Vanderloop who were not so ardent as it had been was too intense for her to let any other woman get a hold of him all together Monsieur Vanderloop was in an extremely unpleasant position and one of his own making having given kitty over to the tender care of Mrs Rolston Vanderloop hurried outside to look for the missing bottle he had guessed the position he had been selling and striking a match went to look over the smooth close short turf but though he was a long time and looked carefully the bottle was gone that devil said Vanderloop startled by this discovery who could have picked it up he went back into the conservatory and sitting down in his old place commenced to review the position it was most annoying about the poison there was no doubt of that he only hoped that whoever picked it up would know nothing about its dangerous qualities after all he could be certain about that as no one but himself knew what the poison was and how it could be used the person who picked up the bottle would probably throw it away as useless and then again perhaps when Kitty threw the bottle away the stopper came out and the contents would be lost and then Kitty still had more left but she would not use it on Madame Midas that was the vague threat of a jealous woman to frighten him the real danger he was in lay in the fact that she might tell Madame Midas the relations between them and then there would be no chance of his marrying at all if he could only stop Kitty's mouth in some way persuasion was thrown away on her if he could with safety get rid of her he would ah that was an idea he had some of this poison if he could only manage to give it to her and thus remove her from his path there would be no risk of discovery as the poison left the traces behind and if it came to the worst it would appear she had committed suicide the poison similar to what she had used would be found in her possession it was a pity to kill her so young and pretty and yet his safety demanded it for if she told Madame Midas all it might lead to further inquiries and Monsieur Vandaloup well knew his past life that he was not fair looking into another thing she had threatened him about some secret she held he did not know what it was and yet almost guessed if that was the secret she must be got rid of it would imperil not only his liberty but his life well if he had to get rid of her the sooner he did so the better even on the next day he would have to give her the poison that night but how that was the difficulty he could not do it at this ball as it would be too apparent if she died no it would have to be administered secretly when she went home but then she would go to Madame Midas's room to see how she was and then would retire to her own room he knew where that was just off mrs. Villiers room there were french windows in both rooms two in mrs. Villiers and one in Kitty's that was the plan they would be left open as the night was hot suppose he went down to St. Kilda and got into the garden he knew every inch of the way then he would slip into the open window and if it was not open he could use a diamond ring to cup the glass the diamond ring he never wore so if Kitty was discovered to be poisoned and the glass cut they would never suspect him as he did not wear rings at all and the evidence of the cup window would show a diamond must have been used well suppose he got inside Kitty would be asleep and he could put the poison into the water corrupt or he could put it in a glass of water standing the risk would be would she drink it or not he would have to run that risk if he failed this time he would not be next but then suppose she awoke and screamed for sure when she saw it was he Kitty would not dare to make a scene and he could easily make some excuse for his presence there it was a wild scheme but then he was in such a dangerous position that he had to try everything when Monsieur Vandaloup had come to this conclusion he arose and going to the supper room drunk a glass of brandy that even he cool as he was felt a little nervous over the crime he was about to commit he thought he would give Kitty one last chance so when she was already cloaked waiting with Mrs. Rilla for the carriage he drew her aside you did not mean what you said tonight he whispered looking searchingly at her yes I did she replied defiantly if you push me to extremities you must take the consequences it will be the worst for you he said threateningly as the carriage drove up afraid of you she retorted shrugging her shoulders a trick she had learned from him you have ruined my life but I'm not going to let you ruin madams I'd soon as see her dead than in your arms remember I have warned you he said gravely handing her to the carriage good night good night she answered mockingly and tomorrow in a low voice you will be astonished and tomorrow he said to himself as the carriage drove up you will be dead end of part 2 chapter 10