'To your health, Madame,' he said, drinking.

Mrs Villiers bowed courteously. This young man pleased her. She was
essentially a woman with social instincts, and the appearance of
this young and polished stranger in the wilds of the Pactolus claim
promised her a little excitement. It was true that every now and
then, when she caught a glimpse from his scintillating eyes, she was
conscious of a rather unpleasant sensation, but this she put down to
fancy, as the young man's manners were really charming.

When the supper was ended, Pierre pushed back his chair into the
shadow and once more relapsed into his former gloom, but Vandeloup
stood up and looked towards Madame in a hesitating manner.

'I'm afraid, Madame, we disturb you,' he murmured vaguely, though in
his heart he wished to stay in this pleasant room and talk to such a
handsome woman; 'we had best be going.'

'Not at all,' answered Madame, graciously, 'sit down; you and your
friend can sleep in the men's quarters to-night, and to-morrow we
will see if we can't provide you with a better resting-place.'

Vandeloup murmured something indistinctly, and then resumed his
seat.

'Meanwhile,' said Mrs Villiers, leaning back in her chair, and
regarding him fixedly, 'tell me all about yourselves.'

'Alas, Madame,' answered Vandeloup, with a charming smile and