"
"I scarcely expected to find you hereafter our meeting at Frimley,"
replied the baronet.
"There was nothing to detain me in the country. I came back some days
ago, and have been busy with my old studios in chemistry."
"You still dabble with poisons, I perceive," said Sir Reginald,
pointing to the mask which Victor had laid aside on a table near him.
"Every chemist must dabble in poisons, since poison forms an element of
all medicines," replied Victor. "And now tell me to what new dilemma of
yours do I owe the honour of this visit. You rarely enter this house
except when you find yourself desperately in need of my humble
services. What is the last misfortune?"
"I have just come from the Phoenix, where I met Caversham, I thought I
should be able to get a hundred or so out of him at _ecarte_ to-night;
but the game is up in that quarter."
"He suspects that he has been--_singularly_ unfortunate?"
"He knows it. No man who was not certain of the fact would have dared
to say what he said to me. He insulted me, Carrington-insulted me
grossly; and I was not able to resent his insolence."
"Never mind his insolence," answered Victor; "in six months your
position will be such that no man will presume to insult you. So the
game is up at Hilton House, is it? I thought you were going on a little
too fast. And pray what is to be the next move?"
"What can we do? Paulina's creditors are impatient, and she has very
little money to give them.
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