'He is suspicious,' muttered the young man to himself, thoughtfully,
'although he has nothing to go on in connecting me with the case.
Should I use the poison here I must be careful, for that man will be
my worst enemy.'
He felt a hand on his shoulder, and turning round saw Barty Jarper
before him. That fashionable young man was in evening dress, and
represented such an extent of shirt front and white waistcoat,--not
to mention a tall collar, on the top of which his little head was
perched like a cocoanut on a stick,--that he was positively
resplendent.
'Where are you going to?' asked the gorgeous Barty, smoothing his
incipient moustache.
'Well, I really don't know,' answered Vandeloup, lighting a
cigarette. 'I am leaving for Melbourne to-morrow morning, but to-
night I have nothing to do. You, I see, are engaged,' with a glance
at the evening dress.
'Yes,' returned Barty, in a bored voice; 'musical party on,--they
want me to sing.'
Vandeloup had heard Barty's vocal performance, and could not forbear
a smile as he thought of the young man's three songs with the same
accompaniment to each. Suppressing, however, his inclination to
laugh, he asked Barty to have a drink, which invitation was promptly
accepted, and they walked in search of a hotel. On the way, they
passed Slivers' house, and here Vandeloup paused.
'This was the first house I entered here,' he said to Barty, 'and I
must go in and say good-bye to my one-armed friend with the
cockatoo.
Pages:
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225