Darwin--the great
Darwin--used to read novels: the worse the novel, the better he
liked it--or so I've heard.'
"'As it happens,' said I, 'this is my first visit to Monte
Carlo.'
"'Indeed?' He brightened and became yet more fatuous.
'Then we may call it a coincidence, eh?--a veritable
coincidence. When I saw you--But first of all, let me
congratulate you on your luck.'
"'Thank you,' I said. 'I will make a note that your first
impulse on encountering me was to congratulate me on my luck.'
"This seemed to puzzle him for a moment. Then, 'Oh, I see what
you mean,' he said. 'But we're coming to that. . . . You gave
me a fair turn just now, you did, turning up so unexpected.
But (says I) this makes an opportunity that I ought to have made
for myself before leaving London. Yes, I ought. . . . But I
want to say to you now, Dr. Foe--as between man and man--that I
made a mistake. I was misled--that's the long and short of it.
I never stirred up that crowd, Doctor, to make the mess they did
of your--your premises.
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