Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

ARTHUR'S OPINION, 153 and on one or two rare occasions was heard to laugh quite heartily, which fascinated Dick more hopelessly than ever. Arthur had rented a villa midway between Nice and Ville-Franche for the gay season, and as soon as conven- ient, they intended recrossing the Mediterranean and tak- ing possession of. it. Gertrude’s horses, with an additional pair for riding, had been sent on there from Paris, and a staff of servants, under the supervision of an excellent housekeeper, were installed some time before they them- selves had decided upon the exact date of their departure. In proportion to the improvement noticed in Miss Came- ron’s manner and appearance, however, that of Mr. Forrest seemed to deteriorate. He grew more silent every day and at times was actually moody. He would spend hours by hitaself and, from being the life of the party, would often make excuse to avoid accompanying them. It was impossible to say what ailed him, as he did not complain and seemed physically as strong as ever. Only ambition of every kind had apparently died within him. ‘‘Tt’s his liver,’’ said Arthur, one day, when Gertrude was telling him how she had to coax him to accompany them to the Muski to examine some rare old lamps. ‘‘Tt’s his heart,’’ declared his wife, sententiously. ‘‘Hh?’’ uttered Arthur, misinterpreting her, but she had left the room. One evening, after dinner, when the two men were on the terrace, together, lingering over the cafe noir and cigar- ettes, Dick, who had not spoken for at least fifteen min- utes, suddenly said, abruptly: ‘Tell me, Arthur, what do you think of Miss Cameron?’’ ‘“Sir,’’? returned Arthur, with mock severity, ‘‘do you forget that I am amarried man—a slave to my wife’s Gomichookssco