Page:A Gentleman's Gentleman.djvu/101

 though what a man is to do in Paris these times I'd like to learn."

"You've more than a thousand pounds to spend, sir," said I, reminding him how well we had sold Janet Oakley's diamonds.

"That's so," said he, brightening up wonderfully; "there's a deal of spending in a thousand pounds. And I don't forget that Jack Ames is here. There should be fun while he stops, any way."

"Quite true, sir," replied I, "so long as you don't play billiards with him. Making bold to say it, he could beat you with his umbrella."

"No such thing!" exclaimed he. "I'll take fifteen in a hundred and play him for a monkey any day."

"I wouldn't, if I were you, sir," said I; "we've got to go steady a bit yet—don't forget that."

This made him serious, as any word about his position always did.

"Do you think they'll follow us?" he asked quickly, "or is it some news you've got in your head?"

"Neither the one nor the other. I've no news, and I don't think they'll follow us, sir. But this I do say, that I wouldn't let myself be heard of for a month or so, if you can help it. There's no telling what Heresford would do if it came to his ears that you were starring about."

"You're right there. I'm trusting that Oakley hushed the affair up. There's nothing about it in the English papers that I can see."