CHAPTER VII. THE SECRET OF THE SIMIACINE
Surtout, Messieurs, pas de zele.
Such was the meeting of Victor Durnovo and Jack Meredith. Two men
with absolutely nothing in common--no taste, no past, no kinship--
nothing but the future. Such men as Fate loves to bring together
for her own strange purposes. What these purposes are none of us
can tell. Some hold that Fate is wise. She is not so yet, but she
cannot fail to acquire wisdom some day, because she experiments so
industriously. She is ever bringing about new combinations, and one
can only trust that she, the experimenter, is as keenly disappointed
in the result as are we, the experimented.
To Jack Meredith Victor Durnovo conveyed the impression of little
surprise and a slight local interest. He was a man who was not
quite a gentleman; but for himself Jack did not give great heed to
this. He had associated with many such; for, as has been previously
intimated, he had moved in London society, where there are many men
who are not quite gentlemen. The difference of a good coat and that
veiled insolence which passes in some circles for the ease of good
breeding had no weight with the keen son of Sir John Meredith, and
Victor Durnovo fared no worse in his companion's estimation because
he wore a rough coat and gave small attention to his manners.
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