Gaston
Vandeloup, though not exactly miserable, was very ill at ease. The
inquest had been adjourned until the Government analyst, assisted by
Dr Gollipeck, had examined the stomach, and according to a paragraph
in the evening paper, some strange statements, implicating various
people, would be made next day. It was this that made Vandeloup so
uneasy, for he knew that Dr Gollipeck would trace a resemblance
between the death of Selina Sprotts in Melbourne and Adele Blondet
in Paris, and then the question would arise how the poison used in
the one case came to be used in the other. If that question arose it
would be all over with him, for he would not dare to face any
examination, and as discretion is the better part of valour, M.
Vandeloup decided to leave the country. With his usual foresight he
had guessed that Dr Gollipeck would be mixed up in the affair, so
had drawn his money out of all securities in which it was invested,
sent most of it to America to a New York bank, reserving only a
certain sum for travelling purposes. He was going to leave Melbourne
next morning by the express train for Sydney, and there would catch
the steamer to San Francisco via New Zealand and Honolulu. Once in
America and he would be quite safe, and as he now had plenty of
money he could enjoy himself there. He had given up the idea of
marrying Madame Midas, as he dare not run the risk of remaining in
Australia, but then there were plenty of heiresses in the States he
could marry if he chose, so to give her up was a small matter.
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