CHAPTER XVII
THE BEST OF FRIENDS MUST PART
Union is strength, and if Dr Gollipeck had only met Slivers and
revealed his true opinion of Vandeloup to him, no doubt that clever
young man would have found himself somewhat embarrassed, as a great
deal of a man's past history can be found out by the simple plan of
putting two and two together. Fortunately, however, for Gaston,
these two gentlemen never met, and Gollipeck came to the conclusion
that he could see nothing to blame in Vandeloup's conduct, though he
certainly mistrusted him, and determined mentally to keep an eye on
his movements. What led him to be suspicious was the curious
resemblance the appearance of this young man had to that of a
criminal described in the 'Les Empoisonneurs d'Aujourd'hui' as
having been transported to New Caledonia for the crime of poisoning
his mistress. Everything, however, was vague and uncertain; so Dr
Gollipeck, when he arrived home, came to the above-named conclusion
that he would watch Vandeloup, and then, dismissing him from his
mind, went to work on his favourite subject.
Meanwhile, M. Vandeloup slept the sleep of the just, and next
morning, after making his inquiries after the health of Madame
Midas--a thing he never neglected to do--he went into Ballarat in
search of Pierre. On arriving at the Wattle Tree Hotel he was
received by Miss Twexby in dignified silence, for that astute damsel
was beginning to regard the fascinating Frenchman as a young man who
talked a great deal and meant nothing.
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