Page:The Reverberator (2nd edition, American issue, London and New York, Macmillan & Co., 1888).djvu/118

108 old gentleman, heaven knew, had prejudices, but if they were numerous, and some of thenouvery curious, they were not rigid. He had also such nice inconsistent feelings, such irrepressible indulgences, and they would ease everything off. He was in short an old darling, and with an old darling, in the long run, one was always safe. When they reached the house in the Cours la Reine Mr. Probert said: "I think you told me you are dining out."

"Yes, with our friends."

"'Our friends?' Comme vous y allez! Come in and see me, then, on your return; but not later than half-past ten."

From this the young man saw that he had swallowed the dose; if he had made up his mind that it wouldn't do he would have announced the circumstance without more delay. This reflection was most agreeable, for Gaston was perfectly aware of how little he himself would have enjoyed a struggle. He would have carried it through, but he could not bear to think of it, and the sense that he was spared it made him feel at peace with all the world. The dinner at the hotel became a little banquet in honour of this state of things, especially as Francie and Delia raved, as they said, about his papa.

"Well, I expected something nice, but he goes far beyond," Delia remarked. "That's my idea of a gentleman."