"You are what we call a swell. I
know by the look of you. What do you want with me?"
The voice, like the face, was peculiar, not unpleasant--deep, rich, with
a clear tone, yet not in the least like Madaline's voice.
"I want," said Lord Arleigh, steadily, "to be your friend, if you will
let me."
"My friend!" a cynical smile curled the handsome lips. "Well, that is
indeed a novelty. I should like to ask, if it would not seem rude, what
kind of a friend can a gentleman like you be to me?"
"You will soon find out," said Lord Arleigh.
"I have never known a friendship between a rich man and a ne'er-do-well
like myself which did not end in harm for the poorer man. You seek us
only when you want us--and then it is for no good."
"I should not be very likely to seek you from any motive but the desire
to help you," observed Lord Arleigh.
"It is not quite clear to me how I am to be helped," returned the
convict with a cynical smile; "but if you can do anything to get me out
of this wretched place, please do."
"I want you to answer me a few questions," said Lord Arleigh--"and very
much depends on them.
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