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Reade, Charles, 1814-1884

"A Woman-Hater"


"Of course. Do you think I leave a man fifty pounds to play with, and
don't give him my address? He has won thousands with my money, and sent
me back my fifty, for a blind, the thief!"
"Well, really it is too bad," said Fanny. "But, there--I'm afraid you
must make the best of it. Of course, their sending back your fifty pounds
shows they mean to keep their winnings."
"You talk like a woman," said he; then, grinding his teeth, and
stretching out a long muscular arm, he said, "I'll take the blackguard by
the throat and tear it out of him, though I tear his life out along with
it."
All this time Zoe had been looking at him with concern, and even with
admiration. He seemed more beautiful than ever, to her, under the
influence of passion, and more of a man.
"Mr. Severne," said she, "be calm. Fanny has misled you, without
intending it. She did not hear all that passed between those two; I did.
The velveteen and neck-tie man refused to bet with your money. It was
Mademoiselle Klosking who bet, and with her own money. She took
twenty-five pounds of her own, and twenty-five pounds of yours, and won
two or three hundred in a few moments.


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