proud to support him until, as he phrased it, he had
"stamped his name on the age"! But the stamping took a long time, and
Basil troubled himself very little about the matter. He remarked that
genius should not be forced, and loafed away the greater portion of his
days. His mother kept him in pocket-money and clothes, Peter supplied
board and lodging, and Basil got through life very pleasantly. He
wished to be famous, to have his name in every mouth and his portrait
in every paper; but the work that was necessary to obtain these
desirable things he was unwilling to do. Cuthbert knew that the young
fellow had been "born tired"! and although something of an idler
himself, liked Basil none the more for his laziness. Had Mallow been
poor he would certainly have earned his bread, but he had a good income
and did not work. And, after all, he only pursued the way of life in
which he had been brought up. But Basil was poor and had his career to
make, therefore he certainly should have labored. However, for
Juliet's sake, Cuthbert was as polite as possible.

"If I were you, Saxon, I should leave cards alone," said Mallow.

"Nonsense! I don't play high. Besides, I have seen you at Maraquito's
also losing a lot."

"I can afford to lose," said Cuthbert dryly, "you can't."

"No, by Jove, you're right there. But don't preach, Mallow, you ain't
such a saint yourself."

"Can I help you with a cheque?"

Basil had good breeding enough to color.

"No! I didn't explain myself for that," he said coldly, "and besides,
if Juliet comes in for Aunt Selina's money, I'll get some. Juliet and
I always share."

This meant that Juliet was to give the money and Basil to spend it.
Mallow was disgusted with this candid selfishness. However, he did not
wish to quarrel with Basil, as he knew Juliet was fond of him, and
moreover, in the present state of affairs, he was anxious to have
another friend besides Mr. Octagon in the house. "Perhaps Miss Loach
may have left you some money after all," he remarked.

"By Jove, I hope so. I'll be in a hole if she has not. There's a
bill--" here he stopped, as though conscious of having said too much.
"But that will come into Juliet's possession," he murmured.

"What's that?" asked Cuthbert sharply.

"Nothing--nothing--only a tailor's bill. As to getting money by the
will, don't you know I quarrelled with Aunt Selina a week before her
death. Yes, she turned me out of the house." Here Ba