Madame Midas

s were by no means pleased wit

se resist, unless she bribed him by giving him an interest in the Pactolus — or that Villiers could assume an injured tone and accuse Vandeloup of being his wife’s lover, and threaten to divorce her unless she made him her partner in the claim. But they had both reckoned wrongly, for neither of these things happened, as Madame was not in love

ard he was. He was sipping a glass of whisky and water and smoking his pipe, while he watched Slivers stumping up and down the office, swinging his cork arm vehementl

gs when you sent that jackadandy out to th

led Slivers, in a rage, ‘which is mo

growled Mr Villiers, in a sulky ton

ed the senior partner, with a malignant g

orted the other, tak

ble, which position caused his wooden leg to stick straight out, a result which h

drop these personalities and come to business; what’s to be done? Vandeloup is firmly est

agging his wooden leg up and dow

hen supplemented his remarks by adding, ‘Oh, my prec

o Billy’s interruption; ‘I tell you we can’t wait much longer; they

to the Pactolus and see yo

lliers, gloomily, ‘s

f a woman, are you?’ sna

ne man do against twenty of these devils. Why, they’d kill me if I went out the

ivers’ shoulder. ‘Oh, Lord! ha! ha! ha!’ going into fits of laughter;

ed man, getting down from the table. ‘You go out near the c

ay?’ asked Vill

him with fiery sco

she’s dragging your noble name through the mud, and say you’ll divorce her

ain ejaculate

s a good dog, but he don’t bite. I’ve tri

d pouring himself out some whisky. ‘I don’t care what you do, as long as I

t a moment, the

door, ‘but it’s no go, I tell you, she’s st

leg, ‘then I’d smash her; I’d crush her; I’d grind her into little bits, damn her,’

hat he might bring himself into an abnormal condition of bravery. Thus primed, he went to the railway station, took the

el, and went in the direction of the Pactolus 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

y road, and looking preternaturally solemn; ‘it maksh me see double: if I see m

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 to one side 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 mosquitos stung him, yet he

n 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 goin

n gesture as though to fall behind and thus avoid him. It was, however, too late, for Mr Villiers, hea

t him with an expression of intense loathing on her fine face, and he vainly trying to a

ld have contaminated her, tried to pass, but on seeing this he sprang

his clenched teeth; ‘first

ame saw some man moving towards them, down the long road which led to the station, and knowing that Vandeloup had been into town, she prayed in her heart that it might be he, and so

in a low, clear voice, but in

y planting himself directly in front

enough yet? Have you not squandered every penny I had from my fath

Pactolus,’ he

eating 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, ‘this land we now stand on i

like a snake unde

in a taunting tone; ‘yo

? What do

Ballarat knows the position that young

m, 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

ill not lower myself to reply to your accusation; but, as there is

iers involuntarily drew back, but recovering himsel

thought it was broken. ‘You’ll kill me, will you? — you! — you!’ he shr

eloup had come to the rescue. He had recognised Madame Midas down the road, and saw that h

road, and walk towards her. He was not at all excited, but seemed as cool and calm as

in his usual cool voice, ‘and leave me to d

s, in a faint voice; ‘he nearly br

deloup, with a doubtful look

et him h

eplied the young man, with a glance at

iving him her hand; ‘you have rendered me a

d, 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 pitiable appearance. H

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 at Ballarat. I also t

anger, and tried to look dignified, but, covered

’ he said at length, i

have taken you for a mud bank, but as you both speak and smile I presume you

growled Villiers

and strong, almost a total abstainer; you, on the contrary, are old and flabby, with the

finger on me,’ said

‘you’re rather too dirty for close companionship. I really t

obtained work for,’ said Mr

h a shrug of his shoulders; ‘I never expect anything from i

he imperturbable coolness of the young Frenchman

y wife I’ll pay

Vandeloup, gaily; ‘if you call I will give you

t of hearing, and went on his way to the statio

a queer smile on his lips, then turned on his he