"Oh, nothing--nothing. I was just thinking it's a wild
place in which to find one's self at night. By the way,"
added Basil, as though anxious to change a disagreeable
subject, "do you think Jarvey Hale a nice fellow?"

"No, I don't. I have met him at Maraquito's, and I don't like
him. He's a bounder. Moreover, a respectable lawyer has no
right to gamble to the extent he does. I wonder Miss Loach
trusted him."

"Perhaps she didn't know of his gambling," said Basil, his
eyes wandering everywhere but to the face of his companion;
"but, should you think Hale would be hard on a fellow?"

"Yes, I should. Do you owe him money?"

"A few pounds. He won't give me time to pay. And I say,
Mallow, I suppose all Aunt Selina's affairs will be left in
Hale's hands?"

"I can't say. It depends upon the will. If everything is
left to Juliet, unconditionally, she may take her affairs out
of Hale's hands. I should certainly advise her to do so.
He's too intimate with Maraquito and her gambling salon to be
a decent lawyer."

"You do seem down on gambling," said Basil, "yet you gamble
yourself a lot. But I expect Juliet will change her lawyer.
I hope she will."