Unluckily for Madame Midas, she had that day been to Ballarat, and was just returning.  She had gone by train, and was now leaving the station and walking home to the Pactolus along the road.  Being absorbed in thought, she did not notice the dusty figure in front of her, otherwise she would have been sure to have recognised her husband, and would have given him a wide berth by crossing the fields instead of going by the road.  Mr Villiers, therefore, tramped steadily on towards the Pactolus, and his wife tramped steadily after him, until at last, at the turn of the road where it entered her property, she overtook him.

A shudder of disgust passed through her frame as she raised her eyes and saw him, and she made a sudden gesture as though to fall behind and thus avoid him.  It was, however, too late, for Mr Villiers, hearing footsteps, turned suddenly and saw the woman he had come to see standing in the middle of the road.

Husband and wife stood gazing at one another for a few moments in silence, she looking at him with an expression of intense loathing on her fine face, and he vainly trying to assume a dignified carriage—­a task which his late fit of drunkenness rendered difficult.

At last, his wife, drawing her dress together as though his touch would have contaminated her, tried to pass, but on seeing this he sprang forward, before she could change her position, and caught her wrist.

‘Not yet!’ he hissed through his clenched teeth; ’first you must have a word with me.’

Madame Midas looked around for aid, but no one was in sight.  They were some distance from the Pactolus, and the heat of the afternoon being intense, every one was inside.  At last Madame saw some man moving towards them, down the long road which led to the station, and knowing that Vandeloup had been into town, she prayed in her heart that it might be he, and so prepared to parley with her husband till he should come up.  Having taken this resolution, she suddenly threw off Villiers’ grasp, and turned towards him with a superb gesture of scorn.

‘What do you want?’ she asked in a low, clear voice, but in a tone of concentrated passion.

‘Money!’ growled Villiers, insolently planting himself directly in front of her, ‘and I’m going to have it.’

‘Money!’ she echoed, in a tone of bitter irony; ’have you not had enough yet?  Have you not squandered every penny I had from my father in your profligacy and evil companions?  What more do you want?’

‘A share in the Pactolus,’ he said, sullenly.

His wife laughed scornfully.  ‘A share in the Pactolus!’ she echoed, with bitter sarcasm, ’A modest request truly.  After squandering my fortune, dragging me through the mire, and treating me like a slave, this man expects to be rewarded.  Listen to me, Randolph Villiers,’ she said, fiercely, stepping up to him and seizing his hand, ’this land we now stand on is mine—­the gold underneath is mine; and if you were to go on your knees to me and beg for a morsel of bread to save you from starving, I would not lift one finger to succour you.’