The Argosy — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

66 Adonats, Q.C. Oliver Adonais had newly joined the bar; to-day he is perhaps the most rising pleader in England. Then he was wealthy, and—an Adonais ; to-day he is still an Adonais, of course, and—wealthier. Now, during these ten years—and this is the important part—during these ten years, the mothers and daughters of this London world have thought, planned, schemed and toiled to find out the heart of Adonais. And with what result? Total defeat: ergo, Adonais has no heart.” Mrs. Featherstonhaugh interposed now, impatiently. “ Mr. Vaughan,” she exclaimed, ‘‘ listen to this : I was out at dinner the other evening, and in the drawing-room afterwards, Mr. Adonais formed the topic of conversation. His abilities and prospects were eulogised by everybody: and one old, white-haired gentleman, added—what do you think ?” ‘Well, what?” ‘““This: ‘ He has better than all that,’ he said; ‘he has the truest heart in England.’” Roland Vaughan arched his eyebrows incredulously. ‘ Where does he keep it, then ?” | “Not on his sleeve evidently, as some do,” said Miss Ryan: “ to have it played with, and tossed aside at will, at the fancy of every passing breeze.” “Thank you, Miss Gabrielle,” he returned, bending his head slightly. ‘‘I recognise myself to a nicety. However, if Mrs, Feather- stonhaugh will excuse me, I must keep to my opinion: Adonais has no heart.” Mrs. Featherstonhaugh shook her head with the irritability of a woman who cannot brook contradiction. ‘ He has a heart, of course,” she remarked, shortly. Mr. Vaughan raised his hand quickly to his dark moustache, to conceal a sudden smile of amusement. ‘Well, Mrs. Featherstonhaugh, suppose we ask your sister to find it out for us?—we might settle the dispute in that way. Gabrielle, does your pride need humiliation? Defeat means humiliation to you, does it not? I can promise you defeat.” ' “Mr. Vaughan—you are positively rude! And if,” continued Gabrielle, her proud lips curling scornfully, ‘‘if 7 succeeded, whose, pray, would be the humiliation then P” ‘Why mine; and his, ” laughed Mr. Vaughan. ‘‘ Yours alone,” she retorted, beginning to take the matter seriously. ‘Ah well; perhaps so. But I do not fear: you would stand no chance with Oliver Adonais.” Now fairly roused, Gabrielle raised herself with sudden energy. “It is a challenge,” she cried. ‘‘ Before long I will have him at my feet.” Mr. Vaughan glanced at her with a mocking smile. ‘‘ Pardon me,” he said; ‘‘I am far from underrating your powers, but you never will. Or if you do, I promise to own myself most grievously mistaken in my knowledge of men and human nature.” ‘And what else ?” Gomilcbooks