Part 13 (2/2)

”No, I seem to be getting all crust now from your people. Your aunt's right enough, but your father casts his cold shoulder and stale bread at me whenever we meet; and as for a certain lady, she regularly cut me yesterday.”

”Well, I can't help that, Vic. You know what I said when you told me you were on that. I said that I couldn't do anything, and that I wouldn't do anything if I could; but that I wouldn't stand in your way if you liked to try.”

”Yes, I know what you said,” grumbled Pradelle, as they strolled down to the sh.o.r.e, went round the rocks, and then strolled on over and amongst the s.h.i.+ngle and sand, till--a suitable spot presenting itself, about half a mile from the town--they sat down on the soft sand, tilted their hats over their eyes, leaned their backs against a huge stone, and then lit up and began to smoke.

”You see it's like this,” said Pradelle; ”I know I'm not much of a catch, but I like her, and that ought to make up for a great deal.”

”Yes.”

”She don't know her own mind, that's about it,” continued Pradelle; ”and a word from you might do a deal.”

”Got any money, Vic?”

”Now there's a mean sort of a question to ask a friend! Have I got any money? As if a man must be made of money before he may look at his old chum's sister.”

”I wasn't thinking about her, but of something else,” said Harry hastily.

”Ah, well, I wasn't; but look there!”

”What at?” said Harry, whose eyes were shut, and his thoughts far away.

”Them. They're going for a walk. Why. Hal, old chap, they saw us come down here.”

Harry started into wakefulness, and realised the fact that his sister and Madelaine Van Heldre were pa.s.sing before them, but down by the water's edge.

”Let's follow them,” said Pradelle eagerly.

”Wait a moment.”

Harry waited to think, and sc.r.a.ps of his aunt's remarks floated through his brain respecting the fair daughters of France, who would fall at the feet of the young count.

Harry cogitated. The daughters of France were no doubt very lovely, but they were imaginative: and though Madelaine Van Heldre might, as his aunt said, not be of the pure Huguenot blood, still that fact did not seem to matter to him. For that was not imagination before him, but the bright, natural, clever girl whom he had known from childhood, his old playfellow, who had always seemed to supply a something wanting in his mental organisation, the girl who had led him and influenced his career.

”Bother Aunt Marguerite!” he said to himself, and then aloud, ”Come along!”

Volume 1, Chapter VI.

HARRY VINE SPEAKS PLAINLY; SO DOES HIS FRIEND.

Louise and Madelaine went on down by the water's edge, in profound ignorance of the fact that they were followed at a distance of about a couple of hundred yards.

The two friends female were then in profound ignorance of the fact that they were watched, so were the two friends male.

For some time past the owner of the mine high up on the cliff had been a thoroughly energetic man of business, but after the first introduction to the Vine family his business energy seemed to receive an impetus. He was working for her, everything might be for her.

Then came Pradelle upon the scene, and the young Scot was not long in seeing that the brother's London friend was also impressed, and that his advances found favour with Harry. Whether they did with the sister he could not tell.

The consequence was that there was a good deal of indecision on Duncan Leslie's part, some neglect of his busy mine, and a good deal of use of a double gla.s.s, which was supposed to be kept in a room, half office, half study and laboratory, for the purpose of scanning the s.h.i.+pping coming into port.

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