'
'Why, is she in town?' asked Vandeloup, eagerly.
'Ay, and Seliny wi' her,' answered Archie, fondling his frill;
'she's varra rich noo, as ye've nae doot heard. Ay, ay,' he went on,
'she's gotten a braw hoose doon at St Kilda, and she's going to set
up a carriage, ye ken. She tauld me,' pursued Mr McIntosh, sourly,
looking at Vandeloup, 'if I saw ye I was to be sure to tell ye to
come an' see her.'
'Present my compliments to Madame,' said Vandeloup, quickly, 'and I
will wait on her as soon as possible.'
'Losh save us, laddie,' said McIntosh, irritably, 'you're as fu' o'
fine wards as a play-actor. Have ye seen onything doon in this pit
o' Tophet o' the bairn that rin away?'
'Oh, Miss Marchurst!' said Vandeloup, smoothly, ready with a lie at
once. 'No, I'm sorry to say I've never set eyes on her.'
'The mistress is joost daft aboot her,' observed McIntosh,
querulously; 'and she's ganging tae look all thro' the toun tae find
the puir wee thing.'
'I hope she will!' said M. Vandeloup, who devoutly hoped she
wouldn't. 'Will you come and have a glass of wine, Mr McIntosh?'
Til hae a wee drappy o' whusky if ye've got it gude,' said McIntosh,
cautiously, 'but I dinna care for they wines that sour on a body's
stomach.'
McIntosh having thus graciously assented, Vandeloup took him up to
the Club, and introduced him all round as the manager of the famous
Pactolus.
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