“Oh, I don’t know. The fellow gets on my nerves. How does he live? Have you any idea?”
“You mean, what is his source of income? I’m sure I can’t tell you. But for that matter, how do half the men we meet here at Monte manage to live? It would not be well to ask. They have money, and that is the main thing. All we require is to transfer to our own pockets as much of it as we can.”
The young man looked at him thoughtfully for some moments, then said—
“Yes, I suppose so.”
The tone in which he spoke was ironical, but his companion didn’t notice it.
“Do you know Paulton well?” the elder man asked himself.
“As well as I care to. Why do you ask?”
“Only just out of curiosity. Many people form an unfavourable impression of him when they meet him first, and afterwards they come to like him.”
“That’s the reverse of my case,” answered the young man quickly. “The first time I met him I rather liked him, I remember. But after I had met him several times—well, I changed about him. He may be all right! I dare say he is. I suppose our personalities are not akin, as I have heard some one put it.”
“He’s a fine shot.”