TIE & TRICK,

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2361, 27 August 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

TIE & TRICK,

4-4-

BY HAWLEY SMART,

Author of “Breezie Lanoton," “Broken Bonds,” "Social Sinners," “TheGreatTokti.se,” “At Fault,” &e., &o.

CHAPTER VII. AFTER THE EXPLOSION. Fok a minute or two after Wheldrake's departure them was dead silence round the card table, broken only by Maude’s slightly hysterical sobs, “ Get some water, Glanfield, please,” said Sir Jasper, ns he supported his halffainting daughter in his arms, “ and as soon ns she has drunk a little of that I most get her to bed. It’s too horrible ! I couldn’t have believed it of Cyril Wheldrake.” “And don’t now,” rejoined Glanfield, as ho handed a tumbler to Maude. The girl said nothing, but thanked him •with a look as she took the glass, but Sir ~, Jasper’s solo rospoueo was a sorrowful shake of the head. A few minutes more, and after swallowing a few mouthfuls of water, Maude was enabled, with the assistance of her father’s arm, to leave the room. The three men stood for a few seconds eilonty regarding each other. Patrooeui was the first to speak. “Adieu, gentlemen,” he said in his blandest manner. “ It is an unfortunate business; and after the part I have played it is'of course impossible for mo to remain at Wrottsley. I shall leave early to-morrow morning. I must trust to you, Ilammerton, to say ray good-bye to Sir

Jasper, nnd to thank kirn for his courtesy and ho-pit;di!y. Good night!” and the Count, taking up his .bedroom 'candle, bowi'd slightly and disappeared.

“Had business, very,’'said Hammerton, as be prepared to follow Hatroc.mi's oxample. “It. will bo most decidedly bad for your foreign friend whenever ( get at the rights of it,” replied (llaufield, drily.

“The rights of it, or rather the wrongs of it, were, I regret to say, only too clear,” rejoined Hammerton, sharply. “Your prejudice against foreigners is well-known, but you could hardly expect I’.itroeeni to remain silent when ho Hscoverod tho source of Wheldr.akc’s extraordinary hick, though had tie dreamt of Maude being in tho room I feel sure he would have continued to suffer in silence.” “Listen to me," retorted Glanfield, as he looked his companion straight in the face, “ I’ve seen a good many robberies on the turf that I didn’t understand, but I knew they were robberies. I’ve seen what ’they can do with cards at the Egyptian Hall and I don’t hold that ‘ seeing is believing.-’ How it was done and why it was done I don’t know. What your friend’s object was I can’t fathom, but that Cyril Wheldrakc has never cheated at cards I feel certain,”

“ Do you mean to insinuate that Count Patroceni ”

“Stop a moment,” interrupted Glnnfiold. “I never insinuate, and I don’t, hring aucusations against a man’s honour till I’m in a position to prove thorn. I only tell you my linn conviction as you were present. 1 don’t intend opening my month on the subject to anyone else. Good-night.” Hammerton took a turn or two up and down the room, then walked to the buffet and mixed himself a pretty stiff doso of brandy and water. He had not been very particular for sometime past, but such a shameful piece of villiany as he had this night committed he had never as yet, even dreamt of. As he had been spoiled, so had he turned spoiler, and had for some months past resorted’to malpractices at. the card table. Differing from Shakespeare on the point, he deemed that “it inis in mortals to command success,” and no necessity for deserving it. Still, a man does not own to himself that he has turned a consummate scoundrel without some pricks of conscience, and, what is more, feeling terrible misgivings when he knows that another is in full' possession of his guilty secret. Hammerton, now tho thing was done, became conscious that he had placed himself dreadfully in Patroooni’s hands. Well, he had got rid of a rival, he reflected, at any rate; it would he for him now to make the most of his opportunity and take euro that no nno else stopped between him and his consin. He was a fool not to have clenched matters before. Ho would strike now as soon as ever sufficient rime had been allowed eher to got over this affair with Wheldrakc. Hammerton bad slight belief in woman’s constancy, and fancied Maude would speedily touch herself to forgot her disgraced lover ; still bo knew be had a difficult game to play. It was very possible that Maude—even if sho allowed WlmUlraite to be erased from her memory— might not set up his Ilaminortnn’s —imago in its place; but, thought the Captain, ns ho gnplod down hia brandy and water, it is not diiiicnlt to so compromise a girl on the subject of marriage as b> make it very difficult for her to back out when put to tho point'.

There were gaps in the ranks at break-fast-time the next morning which, though not at first perceptible, in consequence of the laxity regarding that meal which generally characterised the inmates of Wrottsley, eventually attracted the sharp eyes of Mrs Fullerton. Sir Jasper was not there, that was nothing, he had usually finished his meal before the failwidow made her appearance; but both the Count and Maude wore absent. Olanlield and Hummerton were unusually silent over their meal, and the hitter announced that, business requiring his presence in town immediately, he was compelled to leave by the mid-day train. Mrs Fullerton scented mischief in the air ; there was a screw loose somewhere she felt convinced. What was it? The widow was not the woman to rest in ignorance on such a question as this. Mr Olanlield must be made to confess. Of course, he was privy to the iniquity that had broken up the parly ; for that there had been an csclamlvo ol some kind Mrs Fullerton felt pretty positive. The sudden disappearance of Patrooeni, the undisguised uneasiness of Hummerton and Olanlield, convinced the widow something unpleasant had taken place. And are you going to desert us,” said Mrs Fullerton, softly, ‘'What a sad break up of a pleasant party.” “ Yes, I am entered for the midday train, and am a certain starter,” rejoined Olanfield.

“ Which, being interpreted,” remarked the widow, “ means as far as I can follow your extraordinary patois .that you accompany Captain Hammerton to London,’’

“It so happens that wo are going to London by the same train,” retorted Glanfield, curtly, “ but I am not accompanying Captain Hammerton.’’ “1 thought so,” murmured Mrs Fullerton to herself, “ there has been a quarrel of some sort amongst them. Where are 'Mr Wholdrake and Count Patroceni,” she continued, aloud.

“They.both left, I presume, by the morning train,” replied Glanfield, with a malicious smile, “we go by the mid-day train. The others, no doubt, will follow by the evening mail.”

.“What others?” exclaimed Mrs; Fullerton. But a twinkle in'the speaker’s eye suddenly informed her of the real state of the case, and it was with the most righteous indignation that’she cried, “You are jesting.with me, Mr Glanfield ! You can’t deceive' me ! There has been a . misunderstanding, and I insist upon knowing all about it.” “ I have nothing to tell," replied Glanfield, quietly, “or, if you like it better, regret that I cannot satisfy your curiosity. I am quite willing to admit, Mrs Fullerton, that something has happened, and fear that far too many people are cognizant of the occurrence for it to be long a secret. I should be only too happy to find myself mistaken.” The grave manner in which Mr Glanfiold said this, together with the utter absence of the argot with which lie was wont to embellish his speech, struck Mrs Fullerton forcibly. She not only felt that something had occurred, but that it was a shell of some magnitude that had exploded amongst the party. She had Mr Glanfield all to herself, the two being now the solo occupants of the breakfast room ; but there was a set look about her companion's face that forbade further questioning, and checked the ever ready tongue of the light-hearted widow. Before lie left, Glanfield made his way to Sir Jasper’s sanctum, nominally to say good-bye, but in reality to request him to suspend his judgment. No loyaller friend in his trouble bad Cyril Wbeldrakc than Mr Glanfield ; it was all no use ; ,iu vain did Glanfield insist upon his favourite theory that “ seeing is not believing" in these days of science and chicanery ; Sir Jasper was inflexible. He held steadily to the one point that with his own eyes—sad to say—he had seen Cyril Whcldrake convicted of cheating at cards, and that no man with such a stain on his escutcheon should ever wed a daughter of his. It was useless for Mr Glanfield to urge that vision may be deceived ; to hint that the foreigner, for some occult reason of his own, had

Masted Wheldrakn’s fair name. Sir Jasper, like the honest country i'ontlcman that he was, put aside all'svich highflown argument. “ It is loyal of you, Glanfield, to stand by him, hut 1 cannot doulit the 'evidence of my own eyes. It was the saddest evening of my life when I had toacknowledge my girl’s lover a simple cardsharper. God forgive Cyril Wheldrakc—not for the night he occasioned me to pass, hut for the agony lie caused my daughter. Caused !” cried the baronet, fiercely. “Caused! still causes! Maude is crushed, broken-hearted—to think that any daughter of mine should have her happiness wrecked by such a cur.” ' “ Wheldrake is no enr, sir, and ho is no client. The day will come when this deception will be exposed, and yon yourself will be the first to acknowledge how very hardly he has boon treated. Good-bye, Sir.Jasper. I sympathise most sincerely with you and Mi<s Eversley in) your trouble, but.i also sympathise with Cyril, who, in spite of . appearances, : I feel convinced is an innocent man.” -- ■ - -

But Sir Jasper only shook his head as he bade Glanfield farewell. lie wits sorely distressed at what bad happened both on hi- daughter’s account and that of her fiiance. It was not only the terrible blow and humiliation this entailed upon Maiiflo, but, bo grieved to think that a fine young fellow like Whcddrako should have so hopolesnly blasted ids name and forfeited his position. He had seen one or. two such oases before, and knew that a man never got over such a fatal charge as that of which Cyril stood convicted. As for .Mr Glanfield, he was only' too correct in his sunqise. Before tin evening Mrs Fullerton, and indeed the house generally, were aware that there had been' a great/was at the card-table, that Mr Wluddrako had been detected cheating, and had' been denounced by Count Patrooeni, that all tho gentlemen bad gone to town, that Mr Wheldrakc had called the Count out, that a duel had been arranged, am! that the four gentlemen were all on their way to the Continent. How this had all leaked out it was impossible to say. Old Jackson, who was by no means without the weakness of garrulity, had probably given the key note, but these things always do leak but. There never was a family quarrel yet, but the domestics were acquaint; d with all the details of it, and in discussing it are wont to weave their own embellishments into the telling of the story. So in this case it was most likely tho opinion of some bellicose, footman that Mr Wheldrakc ought to challenge the Count, and he, therefore, did not hesitate to state that Mr Whehlrako ha 1 done so, after which the adjournment of the four gentlemen to the Continent followed as a .matter of course.

Mrs Fullerton, us soon ns the garbled version of the affair reached her ears, went, at once to Sir Jasp-.r. She was a. shrewd -woman. ,-iu,! wirhout believing the story quite as related to her by her maid, had no doubt that it was in the main true, hut she wished to know exactly 'what did take place. She was much ili-'tres-ed on hot niece’s account, for she felt sure this was 'an offence oi that nature her brother would be pitiless in dealing with. She knew well that everything of this description was’ a crime of the deepest possible dye .in his e-timation, .and felt .sure that he would never give his daughter lo a raan ; lying under such a stigma, and she knew that this would bring much miser to Maude. Mrs Fullerton knew also I hai her niece’s was no half-hearted love, that the girl was of a warm affectionate disposition, and that no man before Wheldrako had ever ensnared her feelings. She was not the girl to love lightly, but having once parted with her heart was sure to be very earnest in her love. Mrs Fullerton was quite aware that it would take Maude a very long time to plunk' up the roots of her strong attachment for Cyril Wheldrako, Sir Jasper finding how much his sister did know at once mads her acquainted with the whole story, and also that everything was over between Maude and her luckless fmnei. “ It’s a miserable business, Clara, and I would willingly for both their sakes have hushed the thing up had it been possible, hut you yourself are evidence that the story is already common property. Besides, how are wo to account for an engagement made one day and, broken off the next. Its terrible; I have hardly proposed health and prosperity to the young couple before I am compelled to turn my intended . son-in-law out of the house. We have had barely time to tell people there is a wedding in prospect, before wo are. obliged to deny it. Such a line young, fellow, too. What madness possessed him?” '

“It is inexplicable,” rejoined Mrs Fullerton, “He’s the last man I should ever have suspected of anything mean or underhand. Still, you say Mr Glanfield believes in him ?”

“ Yes, Glanfield, in his loyal friendship to Cyril, refuses to believe the evidence of his senses. But don’t build upon that’ Clara, and above all, don’t let Maude know it.”

Mr Glanfield is no fool, although he does go racing,” replied Sirs Fullerton, musingly ; “ and, to use one of his own absurd expressions, ‘straight as a line.’ ” I thought you wore to teach him to drop slang. It strikes me he’s corrupting you, retorted Sir Jasper with a smile. “ I don’t think, ” continued Mrs Fullerton, without noticing the interruption, “ that ho would stand up for a friend even, if he considered him in the wrong.” “ His friendship closes his eyes to facts,” “ I can’t, give, you any reason .for it, but I shouldn’t wonder if Mr Glanfield turned out to bo right.” “ Don’t delude yourself with the idea, and pray don’t put it into Maude’s head." “ Oh, dear, it wants no putting there. Why, you don’t suppose, Jasper, you can make her believe that Mr Wheldrake is guilty. No, you can forbid her to marry him, and I suppose you must, under the circumstances, but you can’t make her believe that her lover has done anything wrong. A girl takes a good deal of convincing on that point, even when the man himself is doing his best to make her mistrust him. She will feel it very much, Javier. You have no idea how very much attached to him she is.” /‘lavish to heaven .she had never seen him,’’.replied the Baronet, irritably, .to which Mrs Fullerton deigned no reply. THE COUNT NAMES HIS PRICE Could Hammerton have been made acquainted with Patroceni’s reflections on his way to town, ho might well have had misgivings about having placed himself so completely in the Count’s power. That gentleman was indeed turning over in his own mind how to exact the most, for the very questionable service he had rendered bis friend. “ It is not to be supposed.” mused the Count, “ that I am to lose the e»lm of a capital country bous;e, for, of course, I shall 'never again bo asked to Wrottsley, and he the chief instruiiK ut in blasting the character of n uuin against whom I have no cause ot quin el, tor nothing. I’m not. at. all particular, but it can’t be supposed that one assists in such dirty work as this for nothing. My friend Hmnnerton, you will rind that, though an able, I am a somewhat, expensive coadjutor. The great question is, what can you afford to

pay in either money or kind. I must think, my dear friend,' I must think.” :

The result of tho Count’s cogitations was that the next day Hammerton received a visit at his rooms in tho Albany from Patroceni.

“ I wonder what brings him here,” muttered the Captain," as ho glanced at the Count’s card ;and what 1 is it he wants to see mo for?. Show tho gentleman in, William. Adi, Count, this is an unexpected pleasure. Charmed to sec yon ; looked forward to meeting you tonight at tho Harlequin.” “ I could not resist the temptation of congratulating you on tho success of your little comedy.” Well count,” exclaimed Hammerton, oxultingly, “ I told you I should score the second gams. What do you say now to my tactics ? I was sorry 'to sacrifice Wheldrake, a fine young fellow 1 with a nice fortune, in the prime of early manhood. He would have been worth a good many'hundreds to you'and me, and but little tho woise for - losing a few of his quill feathers/' However, the fool must needs fall in love and come between md'and thirty thousand pounds,” “Ah ! you have disposed of him. As a foreigner, perhaps, I do not understand' yOur world, but if this thing is known, I presume : Mr Wheldrake is’ socially ruined.!' : 1

“Yes. : I don’t mean to'appear in it, but I shall take okre its known. ' His club will request : hirn to resign. They must. Die customs of society are much tho”same throughout Europe, and the whispers of club-land travel far. ■ Wholdrakois socially ruined.” : “It is clever, very clever, ray dear friend.' Yon have, undoubtedly disposed of a favoured rival, but mark me, degrading a lover in a woman’s eight never yot recommended a man to her good graces.” “Oh, fie, Count, our foggy island has bemused your brains. My work is not so clumsily done as that. Why did I make you ray confederate? Don’t you see that in Maude’s eyes, it is you who exposed her lover. Don’t you see that Glanfield and Wheldrake regard the treachery they suspect, but cannot understand, as yours.” ■; , “ You are right ;H am dull. Forgive me, my friend, I overlooked that circumstance. It is permitted to ask what layout' next move ?” “ Certainly, Count,” replied Hammertan, as he pushe'd’a cigarette case across the table -to Patroceni'. “It is very simple: I! appear everywhere with ray uncle and: cousin. In a short time I flood the Society papers with paragraphs. I We understand that a marriage has boon arranged.’ ‘Wc are authorised to state that Captain Hammerton will shortly lead to the hymeneal altar Maude, only daughter of Sir Jasper Eversley. &0., &c.’ You comprehend; before the girl knows where she is, she will bo'compromised in the eyes of the world. I am congratulated. Of course, I deny there is’ any truth in it, but in such a way as means it is'.not officially announced; and. Count, you and I know that a woman, smarting under such a disappointment as imy Cousin’s, has been often won inVuch fashum.’'

('Clever, yes, decidedly clever ; your scheme, my friend, is very ingenious; permit mo to point out one flaw in it.” “ Certainly,” 1 rejoined ••Hlaramorton, eagerly. Any suggestion of yours I shall be only .too glad to take advantage of.” The Count threw himself back in his chair, emitted a thin cloud of smoko from under his moustache, and then said, quietly, “ you don’t soem to have considered me.”

“ You," replied Hammerton, in utter bcwildermeut. “I don’t understand. What do you mean p” 11 Ah. it is you now, my dear Hammerton, who is a little douse,” rejoined the Count, smiling. “My excellent friend, to assist you to win the hand of a charming girl with thirty thousand pounds (seven hundred and fifty thousand francs) I submit to figure in the most atrocious light in her eyes and those of another worthy gentleman or two." “Nothing of the sort, Count,” interposed Hammerton, hurriedly. “ You expose a card sharper. Society is your debtor.’’

“ My conscience,-sir. The degradation of lending myself to , such a fraud. Is that not..matter for compensationr” replied Patroceni. “Oh, that’s your, game, is it?” rejoined Hammerton, roughly.. “Never mind your conscience and feelings. Name your price.” “A question, of figures,” said the Count, calmly, and as ho spoke he checked the items off on his fingers. “Five per cent, on . thirty thousand pounds down, hum, that’s £ISOO ; five, per cent, again the week . before the marriage,, that’s £ISBO more, and a bill for a third £ISOO at the end, of six mouths; total, £-1500. ■Dirt cheap for such obloquy as I must bear.”

“Never mind the latter part of your story,” rejoined Hammerton, brusquely. “ Wo know.,,.each other aiittlc too well for that. The price is too stiff, Count.” “ Probably the other side would give more,,” rejoined Patroceni, as ho flipped the ash. off his .cigarette. ,“Mr Whelrlraka. would think five thousand little to clear his reputation, and win the girl he loves with, her thirty thousand pounds.. I dare say he would give ten. .Don’t be stupid, my dear Hammerton. Eobbery in Westrend clubs, with West-end manners, is exactly the samethingas robbery without the polish, and, human nature being precisely tho same in high and low, the spoilers are just as liable to quarrel over the plunder.” • “ Curse ypur moralising,” rejoined theCaptain, sullenly. “Say. two thousand pounds the week before the marriage, and have done with,it.”

“ You are too impatient, my friend, to bo a good business man,” remarked Patroeeui, blandly, “ but when I say I must have four.thousand, at least, or change sides, you will understand it is advisable to give it.” . “I see nothing of the kind. Brag is a great game, but l am an old hand at it. Two I will give-you, and no more.” “ I never argue about such bagatelles' as a couple of thousand pounds,” replied the Count, with all the air of a millionaire, to whom such a sura Was but ns loose change. “If I don’t get it one way I do another.’’

Hammerton made no immediate reply to Patrooeni’s last speech; It dawned upon him in good earnest now that he was in the hands of as rank a bandit as ever sprang from the tribes. ■ The quiet relentless power of, the Count’s nature awed him. He felt that Shyloek was demanding hia pound of flesh, and realised his inability to cop.e with Shyloek. Yet ho possessed one argument which must prove irresistible, and ' Patroceni already had a suspicion of this. Hammerton could plead with perfect truth inability to comply with the first clause in his antagonist’s bond. It was a suspicion of this that had caused Patroceni to lower his claim hy £SOO. He suspected his dear friend Hammerton might have considerable difficulty in finding, that ready money fur which he at first stipulated, and this had caused him to think that perhaps.a thousand pounds was as much as could be wrung from him at present. As for the rest, it was all contingent upon his engagement with Maude Eversley. Should Hammerton succeed in that venture ,ha would experience but little, difficulty in raising the two remaining sums. But, Hammerton, although bo was endeavouring to drive a

hard bargain, was, of course, aware that, ; ere it' could be concluded, that first clause must be cancelled, his finding a thousand pounds was simply a sheer impossibility. 1 11 Absurd Count 1” he answered at last! “ I will give you a thousand pounds Mown tho week before I am married, and a bill for another thousand at three months. That’s the most I can or will )do.l”

“And that is your final offer,” said the ;Count, as he rose and proceeded leisurely to draw on his gloves.

' Hammerton nodded. I will give you a week to amend it, and then I go to the other side.”

“ No, you won’t Count,” cried Ham, mertou, harshly. “Ishould think even you'would’shrink from voluntarily proclaiming yourself such a consummate scoundrel!” . ' '

“Monsieur——” exclaimed Patroceni, sharply. “ P.qoh, Count, there ..is no need to .mince matters between you and me, We may speak plainly to ouq another. You expose me and you place, me in the precise position I have placed Wheldrake, if people believe you—but you will stand In the dock by my side. Either way you. will ruin yourself, believed or not .believed. It is possible people, may take the Word of a well-know London man before that of a foreigner of whom they know nothing. I should have thought a thousand pounds extra a dear price to pay for having such a scandal tacked to one’s name ”

“ And yet, ” returned . the impassible Patroceni, “that is precisely what you decline to pay to avert it.’ Hammerton bit his lips with vexation to find how his eloquence had been .wasted. The quiet way in . which, after listening to his long exposition of the case, the’ Count turned the tables upon him was exasperating. He recognised that he was battling with an astuter brain and more’, inflexible will than his own. . '• '

Patroceni stood calmly awaiting his reply.

“ There is this difference,” rejoined Hammerton' after a little thought, •' I shall have to find a thousand pounds. You have only to forego it.” “I congratulate you upon even seeing that far beyond your nose ; but that, you see, happens to be your business; you pay attention while I state the case to you. I am "a man not given to render services for nothing: For bolding my tongue at Hornburg and assisting you iu this last little comedy—upon which, by the bye, I once more compliment you—l intend to be paid. This marriage may never come off, in which case I should receive nothing. Decidedly, my friend, Ido not mean to leave England without replenishing my purse.” •

Hammerton eyed the Count, keenly. “Then your estates are mere 'chateaux, on E-spayne," lie remarked bitterly, at length. “ The first time yon are in the neighbourhood of Naples I invite you’ to come and see me in the character of a country gentleman. I will give you a week to think of itj or, as we are speaking plainly, a week to raise the thousand pounds. For the present, adieu,”, and with a polite bow Patroceni took his departure.

■ Hammerton threwhimself back in his chair «iid became absorbed in thought, tie had no compunction about what he had done'; it had become such a necessity that he should marry money, and that speedily, that he was prepared to go any lengths to achieve his purpose ; indeed, he had already proved himself utterly devoid of scruple about the means by which he was to. attain his end. He regretted deeply that he was so much in Patroceni’s power, but the more he thought of it the more convinced he was that ho could not have successfully carried out his plot without the assistance of an adroit confederate. The presence of Maude had been unfortunate in some wise, as it had afforded her the of hearing her lover protest his innocence in person instead of by letter, as would otherwise have been the case. But then on the other hand his cousin stood convinced, by the evidence of her own eyes, that it was not he who had brought the accusation against Wheldrake— indeed, he could argue plausibly enough that he had taken his part and done his best to disprove the shameful charge brought by Patroceni ? What was he to do ? As for raising the thousand pounds demanded by Patroceni that was not worth thinking about, and yet the hare idea of exposure made him shudder. All at once a gleam of light flashed across him. If his friend the Count was so resolute to take ready money home with him why did he hesitate to go at once, to Wheldrake? It was obvious he could command better terms from him and be assured of a considerable sum of money at once, as Cyril was not likely to bargain much about the price of clearing his good name. Why, then, did a man, utterly unscrupulous as Patroceni had shown himself, not take bis goods to the best market ? It could be only for one reason. Let him say what he liked, the Count was no more desirous of an exposure than he'was, and if that was the case, well then he could well afford to stand by his terras and abide the issue,' Hammerton had made up his mind. The week passed and he made no sign.

Now the Captain very much underestimated the Count’s capabilities, when he came ito the conclusion that Patroceni could not denounce him without denouncing himself.- To a man of the Count’s calibre that was nothing. He knew, of course, that Hammerton was tampering with the cards at Wrottsley, and looked on, in an amused way at the Captain’s clumsy manipulation, perfectly transparent to an adept like Patroceni. He was quite aware of Hairimerron’s method, and knew that it was essential that one' of the servants should be his confederate. It did not take long for a shrewd man of the world like the Count to discover which. Ere he left Wrottsley, Patroceni had possessed himself of the man’s address, aud knew where to lay his hands upon him at any time. The Count flattered himself that should it suit him to sell his information to Wheldrake, it would be possible to keep himself very much in the background, and figure as a man only too anxious to repair a gross injustice that he had been guilty of. It is a pretty game ofßrag between two as unprincipled men as ever preyed upon Society, and that two human lives ran every chance of wrecking for the gratification of their rapacity troubled them not a whit.

Patroceni, clever as he was, happened to bo the first to discover a flaw in his game. When, as the week drew' near to a close, he found he heard nothing from Hammerton, he thought it high time to hunt out Wheldrake’s address. There was not much trouble in discovering that. Five minutes study of the Blue Book at the Harlequin told him that,, and further inquiry at the address told him to his dismay that Wheldrake had gone abroad. That was excessively awkward Patroceni could not but admit to himself, in homely language much in vogue with the mouey lender of the Metropolis, ‘‘it’s impossible to do business with a gentleman you can’t see,’’ It is no use having a secret to sell when the one man to whom it is worth selling is not forthcoming. Patroceni knew from experience that proud, sensitive natures, crushed beueath such a disaster as had befallen Wheldrake were wont to hurry to the Continent and bury themselves in obscure travel. He realised the fact as soon as he called at hie rooms and

was told that their master had gone abroad and left no address. It might be many months, nay, years, before he again crossed Wheldrake’s path, and conscqnently the Count came to the conclusion that he would do well to drive the best bargain he could with his esteemed friend Hammerton. “ There would not be much difficulty about that,” murmured the Count to himself, smiling, “ but for one thing. My dear friend Hammerton is at present most lamentably destitute Of money.” (To be continued.)