ly
unreal; but, nevertheless, what he had said had created some feeling
in her heart which had induced her to yield to him, and go away in
peace.

CHAPTER LXXII

Showing How George Vavasor Paid a Visit

It was nearly seven o'clock in the evening,--a hot, July
evening,--when the woman went from Vavasor's room, and left him there
alone. It was necessary that he should immediately do something.
In the first place he must dine, unless he meant to carry out his
threat, and shoot himself at once. But he had no such intention as
that, although he stood for some minutes with the pistol in his hand.
He was thinking then of shooting some one else. But he resolved that,
if he did so at all, he would not do it on that evening, and he
locked up the pistol again in the standing desk. After that, he took
up some papers, referring to steam packets, which were lying on his
table. They contained the programmes of different companies, and
showed how one vessel went on one day to New York, and another on
another day would take out a load of emigrants for New Zealand and
Australia. "That's a good line," said he, as he read a certain
prospectus. "They generally go to the bottom, and save a man from any
further trouble on his own account." Then he dressed himself, putting
on his boots and coat, and went out to his club for his dinner.

London was still fairly full,--that is to say, the West End was not
deserted, although Parliament had been broken up two months earlier
than usual, in preparation for the new elections. Many men who had
gone down into the country were now back again in town, and the
dining-room at the club was crowded. Men came up to him condoling
with him, telling him that he was well rid of a great nuisance, that
the present Members for the Chelsea Districts would not sit long, or
that there would be another general election in a year or two. To all
these little speeches he made cheerful replies, and was declared by
his acquaintance to bear his disappointment well. Calder Jones came
to him and talked hunting talk, and Vavasor expressed his intention
of being at Roebury in November. "You had better join our club," said
Calder Jones. In answer to which Vavasor said that he thought he
would join the club. He remained in the smoking-room till nearly
eleven; then he took himself home, and remained up half the night
destroying papers. Every written document on which he could lay his
hands he destroyed. All the pigeon-