'
'How does he manage to pay for all these things?' asked Vandeloup,
rising; 'he's only in a bank, and does not get much money.'
'My dear fellow,' said Bellthorp, putting his arm in that of
Vandeloup's, 'wherever he gets it, he always has it, so as long as
he pays his way it's none of our business; come and have a drink.'
Vandeloup assented with a laugh, and they went to the bar.
'I've got a cab at the door,' he said to Bellthorp, after they had
finished their drinks, and were going downstairs; 'come with me, and
I'll go up to the Princess also; Jarper asked me and I refused, but
men as well as women are entitled to change their minds.'
They got into the cab and drove up Collins Street to the Princess
Theatre. After dismissing the cab, they went up stairs and found the
first act was just over, and the bar was filled with a crowd of
gentlemen, among whom Barty and his friends were conspicuous. On the
one side the doors opened on to the wide stone balcony, where a
number of ladies were seated, and on the other balcony a lot of men
were smoking. Leaving Bellthorp with Jarper, Vandeloup ordered a
brandy and soda and went out on the balcony to smoke.
The bell rang to indicate the curtain was going to rise on the
second act, and the bar and balconies gradually emptied themselves
into the theatre. M. Vandeloup, however, still sat smoking, and
occasionally drinking his brandy and soda, while he thought over his
difficulties, and wondered how he could get out of them.
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