He's very well off, I believe, but
he'll do nothing for poor Dan, and never would. I'm bound to admit
Dan has his faults, but still----"
His brows expressed sorrow rather than anger on the subject of his
hard-fisted relative.
"Do you happen to know anything," pursued Olga, lowering her voice,
"of a transaction about certain--certain letters, which were given
up by Daniel Otway?"
"Why--yes. I've heard something about that affair."
"Those letters, I always understood, were purchased from him at a
considerable price."
"That's true," replied Alexander, smiling familiarly as he leaned
across the table. "But the considerable price was never paid--not
one penny of it."
Olga's face changed. She had a wondering lost, pained look.
"Mr. Otway, are you _sure_ of that?"
"Well, pretty sure. Dan has talked of it more than once, and I don't
think he could talk as he does if there wasn't a real grievance. I'm
very much afraid he was cheated. Perhaps I oughtn't to use that
word; I daresay Dan had no right to ask money for the letters at
all. But there was a bargain, and I'm afraid it wasn't honourably
kept on the other side."
Olga reflected for a moment, and rose, saying that she was obliged,
that this ended her business. Alexander's curiosity sought to
prolong the conversation, but in vain. He then threw out a word
concerning his professional interests; would the lady permit him to
bespeak her countenance for a new singer, an Irish girl of great
talent, who would be coming out very shortly?
"She has a magnificent song, madam! The very spirit of Patriotism--
stirring, stirring! Let me offer you one of her photos.
Pages:
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451