Probably on the night in question she threatened to let the
law take its course, and then Basil--but at this point of
his meditations a ring came at the door. In a few moments
Cuthbert heard a step he knew and rose with an agitated air.
Basil entered the room.
The young man was carefully dressed as usual in his rather
affected way, but his face was pale and he seemed uneasy. "I
see you have had a visit from Hale," he said, trying to appear
at his ease.
"How do you know that?" asked Mallow abruptly, and declining
to see the proffered hand.
"I saw Hale enter a cab as I came up the stairs," said Basil,
drawing back; "and even had I not seen him I would know that
he has been telling you a lot of lies because you refuse to
shake hands."
"Are they lies?"
"Ah, then, he has been talking. He is my enemy. He comes
here to do me harm," said Basil, his eyes flashing.
"He came here as your friend," replied Mallow abruptly, "Hale
wishes me to marry your sister. He offers to hand over to me
a certain check if I marry her."
"I don't know what you are talking about," cried Basil
petulantly, and threw himself into a chair, very pale.
"I think you know very well. Why have you come here?"
Basil looked sullen. "I want you to marry Juliet also. And I
came to say that I thought I could get my mother to take that
money and to withdraw her opposition."
"So that you may have the fingering of the money?"
"Oh, I suppose she will give me some," said Basil airily, and
began to roll a cigarette with deft fingers.
Pages:
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261