CHAPTER XXVII.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1613, 4 November 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XXVII.

Paola Gius.tiniani bore up bravely under, her disappointment. Pale she had always been, and quiet, and but thai her ivory cheek and neck had lost something of their firm, sweeping curves, there was but little change in her appearance or demeanour. ■ " Your daughter appears to be resigned to circumstances," I said to the Count. " Her religion does so much for her, at any-rate." " Pride has as much to do as religion with Paola's resignation," he replied. " Not that I seek to undervalue that patience under the ills of life which is the outcome of sincere Christianity. But how does Walter bear up ?" "Very well; he is sanguine that matters will come right yet." "All. the better for him now, but all the worse when he finds himself obliged to give up hopes." " You are still determined ?" I said. "I do not change easily, as you know, andl' even if I were to make an offer to provide for the young couple, I do not think Walter would accept it." " That he certainly would not," I answered., " He has a fair share of high spirit." " He is a fine young fellow*" said the Count, staring at the ground as he wandered off into one of his soliloquies. " I don't know anyone whom I would sooner have for a son-in-law, were it not for his father. If he were the son of anybody else — Eaymond's for instance I And they say. he is ivery like Eaymond, too. Strange ! , I wonder if, 1 after all—. . Curious thing that Dumarlay shoujd lose his life under the eyes ocE the man he had wronged. It would almost make one believe in the retributive justice some people - talk of, Betributive rubbish !" ' , " You mentioned theother day," I said' to< recall the Count to himself,- "that you thought of i having a ' companion for your < daughter." , "Yea; so I did. Don't- you think it would be a, good thing for her?" < , , ■. •• • , "Yes; she \ goes put very little,' and she appears' to be getting thixmem< r "l' think a ■lively companion of her own age, would be ;an , .excellent' thing for her. DoyoiPinlcncl to advertise?" ' • '. .< ■ " I suppose that is .the best way^— unlest? you know ofsome one*" • , ' *•„ •• "I, my< dear Count!" I said, laughing. " Why, I don't know half-a-dozenpersons'an j Melbourne 13' ' . . ' , fi'i ' " Truev-tf had; forgotten. . Well, *there 'is nd particular hurry. X'! I'll I' see 'what'-P-aola thinks, '.of- it herself," and the < Count slowly'; ascended the atepa of the terrace/ • v.) , ■ a", a, f'Well, Jphn\<>iDerrick}?M saidlitfrthe gar'deneri'.as he passed. me spon afterwards with. '.a r4r 4 , wheelbarrow, "how. do you litte youi* bccupa j )i iion?"-" j , '■ ■■'>' >ji -i'" \«n'w<.>,t h < .- f«l like garde^g well enough, ! sir," she^»n4f sv^ered, " but ,it is not my occupation*,' prd-*r ijeriy^^speaKing.^^^ „ t ,,^^ t . tM^ lin^ lt^>, H y !^ tjKr ,, .^w,*,^^ ;; t l Mighfone ask what wyour proper occupa- , _1 V. • - •■< i tf Derrick put down his> narrow^ana.looked^at,, ,me with aipeculiar^h^lf^s^^wM'liam'.a me< .ohanician,>k f "-fie:answered,,aj^ i a i pause:- I f^l ,'rl »'A 'mech;an;iM^ri'!>Aw^?3hal!|,4^^ henßiVe andj^eh^al , endughVal; ;a^veMs^|A| iwat(ftiniai!ex|^i^a^?niech^iiioiiuiWflOTd§BOilliS/*|ift'

talking to himself, and not thinking about my hearing him at all." " • - • 11 Yes ; that's a way ho has. You'inust riot mind it; I" ' ' " Bless' you, I don't mind it all ! Then, yesterday morning, when I asked him if or a shilling to get s&mei fine wire, he felt about in 'his pocket for a bit and then handed ine'a coin without looking at it.' 'This is a sovereign, sir,' I said. He took it back with some foreign exclamation, but, just as he was putting it in his. pocket again, he stopped short; stood for a moment, and then handed it back to me. 'We must pay for 6ur mistakes in this world, my friend,' he said. ' Keep it; and the loss may serve to make me more careful in future.' I suppose he is very rich, sir?" The question was a natural one enough, but some vague sense of distrust made me give an indirect answer as I strolled away. The Count was rich in rare and curious articles of antique goldsmith's and jeweller's work, for, though the historical and _ artistic interest of the collection constituted its chief worth in the owner's eyes, its money value was also very considerable, and I had more than once remonstrated with him upon the imprudence of keeping the portion which he had brought with him in no safer place than an old oak cabinet. " They are safe enough," he had said. None of the servants have ever seen them except Baldovino, and he is above suspicion."