The dinner over, she was left to amuse herself as she could in the drawing-room.  Rodman and his friends continued their talk round the table, and did not break up till close upon mid night.  Then she heard the men take their departure.  Rodman presently came up to her and threw himself into a chair.  His face was very red, a sign with which Alice was familiar; but excessive potations apparently had not produced the usual effect, for he was still in the best of tempers.

‘Seen that young blackguard?’ he began by asking.

‘I went to see mother, and he came while I was there.’

’He’ll have to look after himself in future.  You don’t catch me helping him again.’

‘He says Mr. Yottle came to see them to-day.’

‘To see who?’

‘Dick and his wife.  He heard them talking about us.’

Rodman laughed.

’Let ’em go ahead!  I wish them luck.’

‘But can’t they ruin us if they like?’

’It’s all in a life.  It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been ruined, old girl.  Let’s enjoy ourselves whilst we can.  There’s nothing like plenty of excitement.’

’It’s all very well for you, Willis.  But if you had to sit at home all day doing nothing, you wouldn’t find it so pleasant.’

‘Get some novels.’

‘I’m tired of novels,’ she replied, sighing.

‘So Yottle was with them?’ Rodman said musingly, a smile still on his face.  ‘I wish I knew what terms they’ve come to with Eldon.’

‘I wish I could do something to pay out that woman!’ exclaimed Alice bitterly.  ’She’s at the bottom of it all.  She hates both of us.  Dick ‘ud never have gone against you but for her.’

Rodman, extended in the low chair at full length, fixed an amused look on her.

‘You’d like to pay her out, eh?’

‘Wouldn’t I just!’

’Ha! ha! what a vicious little puss you are!  It’s a good thing I don’t tell you everything, or you might do damage.’

Alice turned to him with eagerness.

‘What do you mean?’

He let his head fall back, and laughed with a drunken man’s hilarity.  Alice persisted with her question.

‘Come and sit here,’ Rodman said, patting his knee.

Alice obeyed him.

’What is it, Willis?  What have you found out?  Do tell me, there’s a dear!’

’I’ll tell you one thing, old girl:  you’re losing your good looks.  Nothing like what you were when I married you.’

She flushed and looked miserable.

‘I can’t help my looks.  I don’t believe you care how I look.’

’Oh, don’t I, though!  Why, do you think I’d have stuck to you like this if I didn’t?  What was to prevent me from realising all the cash I could and clearing off, eh?  ‘Twouldn’t have been the first—­’

‘The first what?’ Alice asked sharply.

’Never mind.  You see I didn’t do it.  Too bad to leave the Princess in the lurch, wouldn’t it be?’