Page:The Death-Doctor.djvu/137

Rh "Why do you say they?" I queried.

"They're both tarred with the same brush," said he, "only she can 'carry on' and he can't."

I had something to think about that evening. It still seemed plain to me that there was the strong possibility of money-making in this situation. He rich, she evidently unscrupulous and, I imagined, innately vicious; moreover the two of them possessed a weakness which can nearly always be turned to account by the wise man. Truly said the ancient: "In vino Veritas."

I managed to get a tête-à-tête with Mrs. Toillet after dinner, and told her that I had been to see her husband in consultation.

"We didn't like to interrupt you, seeing that you were so occupied on the boat-deck," I said.

"What nonsense!" she laughed. "I was only amusing myself with that conceited old idiot, and because I wanted to make the old 'cats' on board jealous; they all hate me, you know." She laughed as she turned and looked me straight in the face with an expression I know very well and which means much to the man of the world.