Edgar Jepson

“ It is a great advantage that the rents of the houses are two thousand pounds a year, not only from the point of view of my income, but also because it means that my tenants are desirable. Bad hats and swindlers do not run to such high rents.
Indeed, the only tenant about whom I was doubtful was Scruton. Ever since the good gum millionaire had tried to get his house rent free by that ingenious ghost trick, I had been expecting more games from him. He really was a millionaire, or thereabouts. ”

“ After he had gone, I grew even more annoyed about the business; and. yet it really did rot matter to me whether the ghost girl married Herbert or not.
When he called for me, I was ready for him, with two hundred in fivers in my pocket. I did not mean to plunge. We strolled around to Number Nine, and were taken up to a room on the first floor. A long table, covered with a green cloth, was set under two of the windows, and a dozen men were playing at it. Scruton, as black-faced and hard-bitten as ever, stood on the hearth-rug talking to a man whom I did not know. ”

“ It was an odd way for the stepdaughter of a millionaire to talk, especially since she was living with him. But I was not surprised by it. Except when they are showing off, millionaires are stingy sweeps; and I did not suppose that Scruton was any exception to the rule.
I bethought myself that I was there on Herbert's business; and I set her talking about Miss Maynard. She did not want any encouragement. ”

“ Miss Maynard and Freddy Gage came back into the room, looking very well pleased with themselves, and, coming to the table, watched the play. It was higher; men were betting twenties and fifties. Then I saw that the ghost girl was sitting up very stiffly and frowning, and that her eyes were sparkling angrily. Walsh was smiling in an ugly way. ”

“ What a way to speak of grand passions! But, never mind. What is it you want to know?”
“Well, I'm very much interested in a lady—a very pretty girl,” he began hesitatingly. “I met her at the house of one of your tenants—at Scruton's, the millionaire at Number Nine—a very able man.”
“Very able,” I said. And I thought of how the old sweep had tricked my uncle out of a quarter's rent by his ghost, and very nearly tricked me. Then my heart gave a little jump and I felt annoyed; Herbert must have been making love to the ghost girl herself. ”

“ The piebald duke went on talking to the ghost girl, but his eyes kept straying to the table, and finally he came over to it. At once Walsh rose, went to the ghost girl, pulled a chair up to the couch, and, leaning over her in a proprietary sort of way, began to talk in her ear. I was annoyed. Walsh is not the kind of man whom one likes to see within a quarter of a mile of a decent girl. ”

“ Whatever a girl who had lent herself to such a shady trick as that might do, it could not possibly matter to me. Still, Herbert! Herbert is such a rotter!
“But I'm rather uneasy about the circumstances; the—er—environment,” he went on. “Two or three times a week, Scruton has a party after the theater—a man's party. They play baccarat, and they play very high. I was taken to one of these parties, and I met her there. And I have been again—several times. And the play is always very high. ”

“ It is never any use trying to quicken him; he will take the most roundabout way to come to what he wants. I dare say he thinks it diplomatic.
Then he did give me a jolt. He got away from the perfect young politician, and began to talk about the perfect young politician's wife; and he said that the important thing was that she should have brains. ”