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Miss Cayley's adventures (1899) by Grant Allen
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_Miss Cayley's adventures_ (1897), ch. 3

by Grant Allen

THE ADVENTURE OF THE INQUISITIVE AMERICAN

IN one week I had multiplied my capital two hundred and
forty-fold! I left London with twopence in the world; I
quitted Schlangenbad with two pounds in pocket.

'There's a splendid turn-over!' I thought to myself. 'If
this luck holds, at the same rate, I shall have made four
hundred and eighty pounds by Tuesday next, and I may look
forward to being a Barney Barnato by Christmas.' For I had
taken high mathematical honours at Cambridge, and if there
is anything on earth on which I pride myself, it is my firm
grasp of the principle of ratios.

Still, in spite of this brilliant financial prospect, a
budding Klondike, I went away from the little Spa on the
flanks of the Taunus with a heavy heart. I had grown quite
to like dear, virulent, fidgety old Lady Georgina; and I
felt that it had cost me a distinct wrench to part with
Harold Tillington. The wrench left a scar which was long in
healing; but as I am not a professional sentimentalist, I
will not trouble you here with details of the symptoms.

My livelihood, however, was now assured me. With two
pounds in pocket, a sensible girl can read her title clear
to six days' board and lodging, at six marks a day, with a
glorious margin of four marks over for pocket-money. And if
at the end of six days my fairy godmother had not pointed me
out some other means of earning my bread honestly--well, I
should feel myself unworthy to be ranked in the noble army
of adventuresses. I thank thee, Lady Georgina, for teaching
me that word. An adventuress I would be; for I loved
adventure.

Meanwhile, it occurred to me that I might fill up the
interval by going to study art at Frankfort. Elsie
Petheridge had been there, and had impressed upon me the
fact that I must on no account omit to see the Stadel
Gallery. She was strong on culture. Besides, the study of