The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 126: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE EVIL GENIUS 115 At seven o’clock the two friends sat at a snug little table in the private room of an hotel, with an infinite number of ques- tions to ask of each other, and with nothing to interrupt them but a dinner of such extraordinary merit that it insisted on being noticed, from the first course to the last. Randal began. ‘‘ Before we talk of anything else,” he said, ‘‘tell me about Catherine and the child. Where are they ?” ‘“‘On their way to England, after a residence in Germany.” ‘¢ And the old lady ?” ‘*Mrs. Presty has been staying with friends in London.” * What! have they parted company? MHas there been a quar- rel ?” ‘‘ Nothing of the sort; a friendly separation, in the strictest sense of the word. Oh, Randal, what are you about? Don’t put pepper into this perfect soup. It’s as good as the gras double at the Cafe Anglais in Paris.” *‘So it is; I wasn’t paying the proper attention to it. But I am anxious about Catherine. Why did she go abroad.” ** Haven’t you heard from her ?” ‘* Not for six months or more. I innocently vexed her by writing a little too hopefully about Herbert. Mrs. Presty an- swered my letter, and recommended me not to write again. It isn’t like Catherine to bear malice.” ‘*Don’t even think such a thing possible!” the lawyer an- swered, earnestly. ‘‘ Attribute her silence to the right cause. Terrible anxieties have been weighing on her mind since you went to America.” ‘* Anxieties caused by my brother? Oh, I hope not.” ‘*Caused entirely by your brother—if I must tell the truth. Can’t you guess how ?” ‘‘TIs it the child? You don’t mean to tell me that Herbert has taken Kitty away from her mother!” ‘While Iam her mother’s lawyer, my friend, your brother won't do that. Welcome back to England in the first glass of sherry; good wine, but a little too dry for my taste. No, we won't talk of domestic troubles just yet. You shall hear all about it after dinner. What made you go to America? You haven’t been delivering lectures, have you ?” ‘“‘T have been enjoying myself among the most hospitable people in the world.” Mr. Sarrazin shook his head; he had acase of copyright in hand just then. ‘‘ A people to be pitied,” he said. ao WW Thy ‘‘ Because their government forgets what is due to the honor of the nation.” ‘* How P” ‘In this way. The honor of a nation which confers right of property in works of art produced by its own citizens, is surely concerned in protecting from theft works of art produced by other citizens.” ‘* That’s not the fault of the people.” ‘‘Certainly not. I have already said it’s the fault of the gov- ernment. Let's attend to the fish now,” COMMICLO® SS (EC) mn