‘Because, Hugh, in the days, not so long since, when it was – ah – common knowledge that the noble family of Alastair was on the verge of ruin – yes, Hugh, even when I was mad enough to contemplate marriage with the present – er – Lady Merivale – I could only lose.’
‘I’ve seen you win thousands in a night, Justin.’
‘And lose them the following night. Then, if you remember, I went away with you to – now, where did we go? Rome! Of course!’
‘I remember.’
The thin lips sneered a little.
‘Yes. I was the – ah – rejected and heart-broken suitor. I should have blown my brains out to be quite correct. But I was past the age of drama. Instead I proceeded – in due course – to Vienna. And I won. The reward, my dear Hugh, of vice.’
Hugh tilted his glass, watching the candle-light play on the dark wine.
‘I heard,’ he said slowly, ‘that the man from whom you won that fortune – a young man, Justin –’
‘– with a blameless character.’
‘Yes. That young man – so I heard – did blow his brains out.’
‘You were misinformed, my dear. He was shot in a duel. The reward of virtue. The moral is sufficiently pointed, I think?’
‘And you came to Paris with a fortune.’
‘Quite a considerable one. I bought this house.’
‘Yes. I wonder how you reconcile it with your soul?’
‘I haven’t one, Hugh. I thought you knew that.’
‘When Jennifer Beauchamp married Anthony Merivale you had something approaching a soul.’
‘Had I?’ Justin regarded him with amusement.
Hugh met his look.
‘And I wonder too what Jennifer Beauchamp is to you now?’
Justin held up one beautiful white hand.
‘Jennifer Merivale, Hugh. She is the memory of a failure, and of a spell of madness.’
‘And yet you have never been quite the same since.’
Justin rose, and now the sneer was marked.
‘I told you half an hour ago, my dear, that it was my endeavour to act up to your expectations. Three years ago – in fact, when I heard from my sister Fanny of Jennifer’s marriage – you said with your customary simplicity that although she would not accept my suit, she had made me. Voilà tout.’
‘No.’ Hugh looked thoughtfully across at him. ‘I was wrong, but –’
‘My dear Hugh, pray do not destroy my faith in you!’
‘I was wrong, but not so much wrong. I should have said that Jennifer prepared the way for another woman to make you.’
Justin closed his eyes.
‘When you become profound, Hugh, you cause me to regret the day that saw me admit you into the select ranks of my friends.’
‘You have so many, have you not?’ said Hugh, flushing.