The Argosy — page 202: what you’re looking at

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

188 Lady Grace. London theatre, and a great occasion to her, and she put on all her war paint accordingly. But of other paint she had none, Charley : she is too honest and good for that.” “ Where are the Caringtons staying ?” “With his brother. He’s a widower, and lives at a pretty house, up Chelsea way. Decent, intelligent people, Charley ; though, of course, not up to your mark.” “ And where are you staying, Cyras?” “I! You may well ask it, mon frre. Finding no home open to me on landing, the first individual I dropped upon, after leaving the ship at the docks, was Harry Brice. He is in Somerset House, you know; getting on, too; and was bound that moming on some expedition to the Customs. He told me you were on circuit; thought the mother and Gertrude were at Avon, and said I must come to them at Norwood. Down I went. But Norwood’s out of the way for a fellow who wants to knock about town, and I came back to an hotel. Then I went to Paris with Tom Howard—you know Tom Howard, Charley ?” “Don't I! Spends all before him, and does no work.” Cyras laughed. ‘I met him accidentally one morning. He said he was off to Paris that evening, and I agreed to go with him. And here I am back again. And now you know all, Charley.” ‘* Quite enough too,” laughed Charley. ‘ We'll go to White’s now. And Cyras agreed with alacrity. The jeweller’s shop was lighted when they reached it. Mr. White and his assistant were both in it. Charles walked forward; Cyras held back a moment. “T hear that bill is protested, Mr. White,” began Charles. ‘Yes, sir, or about to be,” answered the jeweller. ‘ And I must say I am surprised that a gentleman like yourself should allow things to come to such a pass. If it was not convenient to you to pay it now, you might have renewed it.” “T tell you again, as I told you before, that the bill is none of mine,” said Charles. ‘I never bought the articles.” “TI say that you did, sir, and that the bill is yours,” returned White, showing temper for the first time. ‘To deny it is a paltry subterfuge which a gentleman in your position should be above ” Charles interrupted. ‘ You would swear to me before the Lord Mayor, I suppose?” “Before all the Lord Mayors in the three kingdoms and the corporations, too,” retorted White, now thoroughly roused. “If you » Cyras walked forward and stood beside his brother. “ Look at this gentleman,” said Charles Baumgarten. The jeweller gazed in amazement, now at one, now at the other. “What does it mean?” he cried at last. ‘ Who are you, sir?” turning to Cyras. comicbooks.com