If he did, and promised
to leave the district, no further steps would be taken; but if he
declined to do so, his wife would prosecute him with the uttermost
rigour of the law. Then Madame dismissed them, as she was anxious to
get a little sleep, and Vandeloup went to the office to write the
letter, accompanied by McIntosh, who wanted to assist in its
composition.
Meanwhile there was another individual in Ballarat who was much
interested in Villiers, and this kind-hearted gentleman was none
other than Slivers. Villiers was accustomed to come and sit in his
office every morning, and talk to him about things in general, and
the Pactolus claim in particular. On this morning, however, he did
not arrive, and Slivers was much annoyed thereat. He determined to
give Villiers a piece of his mind when he did see him. He went about
his business at 'The Corner', bought some shares, sold others, and
swindled as many people as he was able, then came back to his office
and waited in all the afternoon for his friend, who, however, did
not come.
Slivers was just going out to seek him when the door of his office
was violently flung open, and a tall, raw-boned female entered in a
very excited manner. Dressed in a dusty black gown, with a crape
bonnet placed askew on her rough hair, this lady banged on Slivers'
table a huge umbrella and demanded where Villiers was.
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