"Oh, she's all right," he replied. "I took her the other night to see Caprice."
"Aha!" cried old Lazarus, lifting up his hands. "Oh, dear, dear, what a woman. I know her, oh, I know her."
"Personally?" asked Keith, whereupon Mr. Lazarus suddenly became deaf.
"Yes, yes, a fine woman; ruins everybody, ruins 'em body and soul, and laughs at 'em, like the fiend she is."
Ezra looked at his paternal relative in disgust, and took Keith's arm. "Come along," he said, "I've got an engagement."
"Good boy, good boy," muttered his parent, nodding his head, "make money, my dear, make--" here another fit of coughing interrupted him, and Ezra hurried Keith away.
"Faugh!" said Ezra, lifting up his hat when they were in the street; "how I hate the miasma of that place. It's like the upas tree, and kills all who come within its circle."
"Do you think your father knows Caprice?" asked Keith, as they walked down Bourke Street.
"Can't tell you," answered Lazarus coolly; "I shouldn't be surprised--he knows half the women in Melbourne. When a spendthrift wants money, he goes to my father; when a woman is in trouble, she goes there also; in spite of her lovers, Caprice is such an extravagant woman, that I've no doubt she's had dealings with my father. If the secret life of Lazarus the pawnbroker were only written, it would be very interesting, I assure you."
"I'm glad I got the place," said Keith thoughtfully; "it isn't much, but will keep me alive till I get on my feet."