though he is so incomplete himself.'

He went out of the door, and then Slivers sprang up and rushed to
Villiers.

'Do you know who that is?' he asked, in an excited manner, pulling
his companion to the window.

Villiers looked through the dusty panes, and saw the young Frenchman
walking away, as handsome and gallant a man as he had ever seen,
followed by the slouching figure of his friend.

'Vandeloup,' he said, turning to Slivers, who was trembling with
excitement.

'No, you fool,' retorted the other, triumphantly. That is "Mr
Right".'




CHAPTER III

MADAME MIDAS AT HOME


Madame Midas was standing on the verandah of her cottage, staring
far away into the distance, where she could see the tall chimney and
huge mound of white earth which marked the whereabouts of the
Pactolus claim. She was a tall voluptuous-looking woman of what is