'He's drunk,' replied Vandeloup, curtly, 'and he's likely to keep
the game up for a week.'

'We'll see about that,' said Mr McIntosh, wrathfully; 'I tauld yon
gowk o' a Twexby to give the mon food and drink, but I didna tell
him to mack the deil fu'.'

'It wasn't the landlord's fault,' said Vandeloup; 'I gave Pierre
money--if I had known what he wanted it for I wouldn't have done it-
-but it's too late now.'

McIntosh was about to answer sharply as to the folly of giving the
man money, when Madame's voice was heard calling them impatiently,
and they both had to go in at once.

Mrs Villiers was ghastly pale, but there was a look of determination
about her which showed that she was anxious to hear all. Pointing to
a seat near herself she said to Vandeloup--

'Tell me everything that happened from the time I left you last
night.'

'My faith,' replied Vandeloup, carelessly taking the seat, 'there
isn't much to tell--I said goodbye to Monsieur Marchurst and
Mademoiselle Kitty and went down to Ballarar.'

'How was it you did not pass me on the way?' asked Madame, quickly
fixing her piercing eyes on him. 'I drove slowly.'