And _now_, I think, you understand!"
He gave him one level and deadly stare; then his pallid features
relaxed, he slowly walked past Ruthven, grave, preoccupied; unlocked the
door, and passed out.
* * * * *
His lodgings were not imposing in their furnishings or dimensions--a
very small bedroom in the neighbourhood of Sixth Avenue and Washington
Square--but the heavy and increasing drain on his resources permitted
nothing better now; and what with settling Gerald's complications and
providing two nurses and a private suite at Clifton for Alixe Ruthven,
he had been obliged to sell a number of securities, which reduced his
income to a figure too absurd to worry over.
However, the Government had at last signified its intention of testing
his invention--Chaosite--and there was that chance for better things in
prospect. Also, in time, Gerald would probably be able to return
something of the loans made. But these things did not alleviate present
stringent conditions, nor were they likely to for a long while; and
Selwyn, tired and perplexed, mounted the stairs of his lodging-house and
laid his overcoat on the iron bed, and, divesting himself of the
garments of ceremony as a matter of economy, pulled on an old tweed
shooting-jacket and trousers.
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