Alpha Book

"
The vulgarity of the insult under the man's own roof scarcely moved
Selwyn to any deeper contempt, and certainly not to anger.
"I did not come here to ask a favour of you," he said coolly--"for that
is out of the question, Mr. Ruthven. But I came to tell you that Mr.
Erroll's family has forbidden him to continue his gambling in this house
and in your company anywhere or at any time."
"Most extraordinary," murmured Ruthven, passing his ringed fingers over
his minutely shaven face--that strange face of a boy hardened by the
depravity of ages.
"So I must request you," continued Selwyn, "to refuse him the
opportunity of gambling here. Will you do it--voluntarily?"
"No."
"Then I shall use my judgment in the matter."
"And what may your judgment in the matter be?"
"I have not yet decided; for one thing I might enter a complaint with
the police that a boy is being morally and materially ruined in your
private gambling establishment."
"Is that a threat?"
"No.


Pages:
352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376