If he is not--let him be what he may for me.' 'And do his worst to cut you out, I suppose ?' 'Ay--if you will.' Somerset, much against his judgment, was being stimulated by these pricks into words of irritation.

'Captain De Stancy might, I think, be better employed than in dangling at the heels of a lady who can well dispense with his company.

And you might be better employed than in wasting your wages here.' 'Wages--a fit word for my money.

May I ask you at what stage in the appearance of a man whose way of existence is unknown, his money ceases to be called wages and begins to be called means ?' Somerset turned and left him without replying, Dare following his receding figure with a look of ripe resentment, not less likely to vent itself in mischief from the want of moral ballast in him who emitted it.
He then fixed a nettled and unsatisfied gaze upon the gaming-rooms, and in another minute or two left the Casino also.
Dare and Somerset met no more that day.

The latter returned to Nice by the evening train and went straight to the hotel.