It was generally understood that personal vanity was one of Gardiner’s weaknesses, and remembering this, I could not help smiling a little at the speaker’s words.
“You may smile, Mr Editor; but no public man likes to have such a vile caricature of himself scattered broadcast over the country; you know that well enough, and you wouldn’t care about it yourself.”
“Perhaps not; but I haven’t yet attained enough distinction to be very well able to judge how I should feel,” I answered.
“Yes; I daresay that makes a difference.—But to come to business. You’re wondering, I suppose, why you’ve been brought here in this somewhat unceremonious fashion?”
“I am a little puzzled.”
“But not afraid, I hope. You don’t look that way much.”
“No; not now. I was just a little startled at first, I must confess. But I am not aware of any wrong I have ever done you, Frank Gardiner.”
“That’s it, my boy—that’s it. On the contrary, it has been all the other way; and that’s why I wanted to have a word with you personally. I wanted to make the nearer acquaintance of my editor, you know.—How do you think they read? I mean those letters. Not so bad for a young aspirant in literature, eh? I’m positively thinking of getting them reprinted in a small book, if I can get any of those Sydney publishing sharps to undertake it. Epistles of a Bushranger. Taking title, eh?—a fortune in the very name. Would fetch the public no end, don’t you think?—But I beg your pardon for keeping you standing all the time, Mr Editor. Just bring yourself to anchor; and have a drink, will you?—Young Hall, hand the editor your flask.”
A young man, considerably the youngest-looking of the party, handed me his flask, which I put to my lips, merely touching the liquor.
“You drink mighty shallow, Mr Fellgate. One finger’s about your mark, I judge. Well, please yourself.—Now, look here. There’s a cool two thousand set on my head; you know all about that. Well, there’s a carbine by your side, as pretty a piece as you’ll find this side the range. Now’s your chance. Take up the gun, and you can hardly miss me, if you were to try.”