Miss Mephistopheles
n the Metropolis of the South. There are the same bold, speculative qualities, the same restless pursuit of pleasure, and the same rapidity and promptness of action which charac
wealth to those who would take shares, and, by means of Mr. Fenton's brilliant command of words, and skilful manipulation of figures, The Never-say-die Insurance Company soon became an accomplished fact. A handsome suite of offices was taken in Collins' Street, a large staff of clerks engaged, a genial medical man, whose smile itself was a recommendation, remained on the premises to
his too ready tongue and the keen glance of his eye. There is no greater mistake than to suppose a villain cannot meet an honest eye, for, as a matter of fact, a succes
ound her finger; and as Kitty Marchurst now had him in her toils, she took full advantage of his infatuation. There was a certain amount of notoriety in being the lover of the now famous Caprice; but Fenton had to pay pretty dearly for his position. Kitty spent his money like water, and when he venture
ordinate, and was amenable to his superior in every way. He admired Fenton greatly, copied him in his dress and mannerisms, affected a rakish demeanour towards his friend's mistress, and thoroughly neglected his poor wife, a neglect of which Fenton tried to take advantage. Had Malton known this, it would doubtless have changed his feel
to Keith and Ezra, who had just arrived, and there were several other ladies present, including Milly Maxwell, who was the second lady at the Bon-Bon--dark-browed, majestic, and
median at the Bon-Bon, and about half-a-dozen others, who were more or less connected with the stage and the press. The men were smoking, chatting, or drinkin
g armchair, reading a fairy tale, and a pretty picture she made with her l
ep in the Magic Castle for one hundred years--oh!" breaking o
over this problem a
rough till the handsome Prince arrived." Here the drawing-room door
y, a dislike which that young person was by no means back
, in his slightly nasal voice, looki
eplied Meg with great digni
be," said Fenton ill-natu
ined Meg, closing her book; "mums
ted the American, and he walked away, wh
make," said the child;
rved Fenton, with no very ami
dignantly; "I don't know a badd
enton, "and who
lied Meg, pursing up her lips; "he
ton vindictively. "Meg, go and t
ed Meg obstinately;
art," said Fenton
f relief, and Fenton turned just to see Ki
child," she said vicious
hold on Meg with an awkw
teach her manne
And now you are here, I wish to speak with you. Meg,
id Meg consolingly to Fenton, and then ran ou
at down near Fenton
five hundred,"
I refused,
ur letter. What
my bus
did you refuse?"
of your ex
eering way that brought
e said, with scorn. "I know fifty better men than
k them," he ret
rang to
ll; that means
at her dress i
t go; you kno
, "that you refuse me a pa
t to you, but I
it," she s
ined," he crie
and make room
devil!" hi
ou what to expect w
e over because I've no money left?"
d glove," s
ill you
are melo
" with a sudden ch
rchurst is dead; she died when she went on the stage, and all womanly pity die
lancing every now and then at
at length, mindful of her promise to Mr
that?"
lton was
upted, springing to his
ngs about your love for
gan, but Kitty shru
money, not for you. But about this visit; he
ttle pale, and loo
the scoundrel!"
risively. "Not a noble, uprigh
from her w
d in an angry tone. "He was fixed up for life, if he
love to his wife," r
wife," replied Fenton, with a sco
me to help thi
u are asking me to
't understand legal terms. I am only asking y
love him?
ve any one ex
child," wi
e. Will you hel
w must take
l help hi
t h
ust be replaced--find out how mu
od? you've not
hat I
t pay the money myself; but I
u w
facedly, "I'll let you
points, so could afford to do so. At this moment Meg entered the room f
"I've given him the knife, and he says i
th a smile, looking at the large--very large ivory-handled k
Mr. Stewart," said
ky sixpence. He says we're engaged now, and wh
ou going to rob me of my daughter? This
ly manner, then hurried away
observed Stewart,
aid Kitty airily
ype="