‘I’m sorry I can’t offer you one,’
said Gaston, affably, ’but I hardly think you
would enjoy it in your present damp condition.
If I might be permitted 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 think,’ said
Vandeloup, with an air of one who thinks deeply, ’that
if you hurry you will catch the next train, which
will save you a rather long walk.’
Mr Villiers glared at his tormentor in speechless
anger, and tried to look dignified, but, covered as
he was with mud, his effort was not successful.
‘Do you know who I am?’ he said at length,
in a blustering manner.
‘Under some circumstances,’ said M. Vandeloup,
in a smooth voice, ’I should have taken you
for a mud bank, but as you both speak and smile I
presume you are a man of the lowest type; as you English
yourselves say—a blackguard.’
‘I’ll smash you!’ growled Villiers,
stepping forward.
‘I wouldn’t try if I were you,’
retorted Vandeloup, with a disparaging glance.
’I am young and strong, almost a total abstainer;
you, on the contrary, are old and flabby, with the
shaking nerves of an incurable drunkard. No, it
would be hardly fair for me to touch you.’
‘You dare not lay a finger on me,’ said
Villiers, defiantly.
‘Quite right,’ replied Vandeloup, lighting
another cigarette, ’you’re rather too
dirty for close companionship. I really think
you’d better go; Monsieur Sleeves no doubt expects
you.’
‘And this is the man that I obtained work for,’
said Mr Villiers, addressing the air.
‘It’s a very ungrateful world,’
said Vandeloup, calmly, with a shrug of his shoulders;
’I never expect anything from it; I’m sorry
if you do, for you are sure to be disappointed.’
Villiers, finding he could make nothing out of the
imperturbable coolness of the young Frenchman, turned
to go, but as he went, said spitefully—
‘You can tell my wife I’ll pay her for
this.’
‘Accounts are paid on Saturdays,’ called
out M. Vandeloup, gaily; ’if you call I will
give you a receipt of the same kind as you had to-day.’
Villiers made no response, as he was already out of
hearing, and went on his way to the station with mud
on his clothes and rage in his heart.
Vandeloup looked after him for a few minutes with
a queer smile on his lips, then turned on his heel
and walked home, humming a song.
Madame Midas strikes ‘ILE’
