He went in to Ballarat, and put
up at the Wattle Tree Hotel, intending to start for the metropolis
next morning; but on his way, in order to prepare Kitty for his
coming, sent a telegram for her, telling her the train he would
arrive by, in order that she might be at the station to meet him.
After his dinner he suddenly recollected that he still had the
volume which Dr Gollipeck had lent him, so, calling a cab, he drove
to the residence of that eccentric individual to return it.
When the servant announced M. Vandeloup, she pushed him in and
suddenly closed the door after her, as though she was afraid of some
of the doctor's ideas getting away.
'Good evening, doctor,' said Vandeloup, laying the book down on the
table at which Gollipeck was seated; 'I've come to return you this
and say good-bye.'
'Aha, going away?' asked Gollipeck, leaning back in his chair, and
looked sharply at the young man through his spectacles, 'right--see
the world--you're clever--won't go far wrong--no!'
'It doesn't matter much if I do,' replied Vandeloup, shrugging his
shoulders, and taking a chair, 'nobody will bother much about me.'
'Eh!' queried the doctor, sharply, sitting up. 'Paris--friends--
relations.'
'My only relation is an aunt with a large family; she's got quite
enough to do looking after them, without bothering about me,'
retorted M. Vandeloup; 'as to friends--I haven't got one.
Pages:
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222