“A nasty idle place where nobody does anything as I believe,” said Mrs. Masters.  Larry received a shock from the tone of the lady’s voice.  He had allowed himself to think that all his troubles were now nearly over, but the words and the voice frightened him.  He had told himself that he was not to speak of his love again till the two months were over, and like an honourable man he was prepared to wait the full time.  He would not now have come to the attorney’s house but that he knew the attorney would wait for him before going over to the club.  He had no right to draw deductions till the time should be up.  But he could not help his own feelings and was aware that his heart sank within him when he was told that Cheltenham was a nasty idle place.  Abuse of Cheltenham at the present moment was in fact abuse of Mary;—­and the one sin which Mary could commit was persistence in her rejection of his suit.  But he determined to be a man as he walked across the street with his old friend, and said not a word about his love.  “They tell me that Goarly has taken his 7s. 6d., Mr. Masters.”

“Of course he has taken it, Larry.  The worse luck for me.  If he had gone on I might have had a bill against his Lordship as long as my arm.  Now it won’t be worth looking after.”

“I’m sure you’re very glad, Mr. Masters.”

“Well; yes; I am glad.  I do hate to see a fellow like that who hasn’t got a farthing of his own, propped up from behind just to annoy his betters.”

“They say that Bearside got a lot of money out of that American.”

“I suppose he got something.”

“What an idiot that man must be.  Can you understand it, Mr. Masters?”

They now entered the club and Goarly and Nickem and Scrobby were of course being discussed.  “Is it true, Mr. Masters, that Scrobby is to be arrested?” asked Fred Botsey at once.

“Upon my word I can’t say, Mr. Botsey; but if you tell me it is so I shan’t cry my eyes out”

“I thought you would have known”

“A gentleman may know a thing, Mr. Botsey,” said the landlord, “and not exactly choose to tell it.”

“I didn’t suppose there was any secret,” said the brewer.  As Mr. Masters made no further remark it was of course conceived that he knew all about it and he was therefore treated with some increased deference.  But there was on that night great triumph in the club as it was known as a fact that Goarly had withdrawn his claim, and that the American Senator had paid his money for nothing.  It was moreover very generally believed that Goarly was going to turn evidence against Scrobby in reference to the poison.

CHAPTER VII

Mary’s Letter