de Coralth, quickly; "Wilkie!"
But he was too late; Chupin had heard and understood everything.
His conjectures had proved correct. M. Wilkie knew his right to
the estate; M. Fortunat had been forestalled by the viscount, and
would merely have his labor for his pains. "No chance for the
guv'nor!" thought the agent's emissary. "And what a blow after
the De Valorsay affair! It's enough to give him the jaundice!"
For a youth of his age, Chupin controlled his feelings admirably;
but the revelation came so suddenly that he had started despite
himself, and changed color a trifle. M. de Coralth saw this; and,
though he was far from suspecting the truth, his long repressed
anger burst forth. He rose abruptly, took up a bottle, and
filling the nearest glass, he rudely exclaimed: "Come, drink that--
make haste--and clear out!"
Victor Chupin must have become very sensitive since his
conversion. In former times he was not wont to be so susceptible
as to lose his temper when some one chanced to address him in a
rather peremptory manner, or to offer him wine out of the first
available glass. But M. de Coralth inspired him with one of those
inexplicable aversions which cannot be restrained "Eh! tell me if
it's because we've drank champagne together before that you talk
to me like that?" the young fellow retorted, savagely.
It was only a random shot, but it reached home. The viscount
seemed touched to the quick.
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