'
'So kind of you to compliment me,' observed Vandeloup, lightly; 'but
in this instance I happen to tell the truth--Kitty Marchurst was my
mistress.'
'It was you that ruined her, then?' cried Gollipeck, pushing back
his chair.
Vandeloup shrugged his shoulders.
'If you put it that way--yes,' he answered, simply; 'but she fell
into my mouth like ripe fruit. Surely,' with a sneer, 'at your age
you don't believe in virtue?'
'Yes, I do,' retorted Gollipeck, fiercely.
'More fool you!' replied Gaston, with a libertine look on his
handsome face. 'Balzac never said a truer word than that "a woman's
virtue is man's greatest invention." Well, we won't discuss morality
now. She came with me to Melbourne and lived as my mistress; then
she wanted to marry me, and I refused. She had a bottle of the
poison which I had made, and threatened to take it and kill herself.
I prevented her, and then she left me, went on the stage, and
afterwards meeting Madame Midas, went to live with her, and we
renewed our acquaintance. On the night of this--well, murder, if you
like to call it so--we were at a ball together. Mademoiselle
Marchurst heard that I was going to marry Madame Midas. She asked me
if it was true. I did not deny it; and she said she would sooner
poison Mrs Villiers than see her married to me. She went home, and
not knowing the dead woman was in bed with Madame Midas, poisoned
the drink, and the consequences you know.
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