Page 164 (1/1)

"Well--I have it on pretty good authority--in fact, on old Catherine's herself--that the family reduced Countess Olenska's allowance considerably when she definitely refused to go back to her husband; and as, by this refusal, she also forfeits the money settled on her when she married--which Olenski was ready to make over to her if she returned--hat the devil do YOU ood-humouredly retorted

Archer moved toward the rate

"I don't know anything of Madame Olenska's private affairs; but I don't need to, to be certain that what you insinuate--"

"Oh, I don't: it's Lefferts, for one," Mr Jackson interposed

"Lefferts--who ot snubbed for it!" Archer broke out contemptuously

"Ah--DID he?" snapped the other, as if this were exactly the fact he had been laying a trap for He still sat sideways froaze held Archer's face as if in a spring of steel

"Well, well: it's a pity she didn't go back before Beaufort's cropper," he repeated "If she goes NOW, and if he fails, it will only confireneral impression: which isn't by any o back now: less than ever!" Archer had no sooner said it than he had oncethat it was exactly what Mr Jackson had been waiting for

The old gentleman considered him attentively "That's your opinion, eh? Well, no doubt you know But everybody will tell you that the few pennies Medora Manson has left are all in Beaufort's hands; and how the tomen are to keep their heads above water unless he does, I can't iine Of course, Madame Olenska may still soften old Catherine, who's been the ; and old Catherine could make her any allowance she chooses But we all know that she hates parting with good money; and the rest of the fa Mada wrath: he was exactly in the state when aall the while that he is doing it

He saw that Mr Jackson had been instantly struck by the fact that Madarandmother and her other relations were not known to hientleman had drawn his own conclusions as to the reasons for Archer's exclusion froo warily; but the insinuations about Beaufort made hier, at least of the fact that Mr Jackson was under his uest Old New York scrupulously observed the etiquette of hospitality, and no discussion with a guest was ever allowed to degenerate into a disagreement