othing. I was just thinking it's a wild place in which
to find one's self at night. By the way," added Basil, as though
anxious to change a disagreeable subject, "do you think Jarvey Hale a
nice fellow?"

"No, I don't. I have met him at Maraquito's, and I don't like him.
He's a bounder. Moreover, a respectable lawyer has no right to gamble
to the extent he does. I wonder Miss Loach trusted him."

"Perhaps she didn't know of his gambling," said Basil, his eyes
wandering everywhere but to the face of his companion; "but, should you
think Hale would be hard on a fellow?"

"Yes, I should. Do you owe him money?"

"A few pounds. He won't give me time to pay. And I say, Mallow, I
suppose all Aunt Selina's affairs will be left in Hale's hands?"

"I can't say. It depends upon the will. If everything is left to
Juliet, unconditionally, she may take her affairs out of Hale's hands.
I should certainly advise her to do so. He's too intimate with
Maraquito and her gambling salon to be a decent lawyer."

"You do seem down on gambling," said Basil, "yet you gamble yourself a
lot. But I expect Juliet will change her lawyer. I hope she will."

"Why?" asked Cuthbert sharply.

"Oh," replied Basil, confused, "because I agree with you. A gambler
will not make a good lawyer--or a good husband either," he added in an
abrupt tone. "Good-day. I'll tell Juliet," and he was off before
Mallow could find words to answer his last remark.

Cuthbert, walking back to his rooms, wondered if it was on account of
the gambling that Mrs. Octagon objected to the marriage. He really did
not gamble much, but occasionally he dropped into Maraquito's house,
and there lost or won a few pounds. Here he had often met Basil, and
without doubt the young man had told his mother. But he could hardly
do this without incriminating himself. All the same, Basil was a
thorough liar, and a confirmed tattler. He might have blackened
Mallow's character, and yet have told a story to exonerate himself.
His friendship appeared feigned, and Cuthbert doubted if he would
really tell Juliet of the appointment.

"That young man's in trouble," thought Mallow, "he is anxious about
Hale, and I shouldn't wonder if that respectable person had lent him a
large sum of money. Probably he counts on getting the money from
Juliet, should she inherit the fortune of Miss Loach. Also he seems
annoyed that I should have been in Caranby's unfinished house at night.
I wo