Of course I queered her pitch!" And then, rather hesitatingly, he had gone on to tell Dr.Panton that he was now paying his enemy an annuity of a hundred a year.

This had been left to Miss Pigchalke in an early will made by his poor wife, but it had not been repeated in the testatrix's final will, as Mrs.Varick had fiercely resented Miss Pigchalke's violent disapproval of her marriage.
Panton had been amazed to hear of Varick's quite uncalled-for generosity, and he had exclaimed, "Well, that does take the cake! I wish I'd known this before.

Still, I don't think Miss Pigchalke will forget in a hurry what I said to her.

I warned her that some of the things she said, or half-said, were libellous, and that it might end very badly for her if she said them again.

She took the line that I, being a doctor, was privileged--but I assured her that I was nothing of the kind! Still, she's a venomous old woman, and if I were you I'd write her a solicitor's letter." That little conversation, which had taken place more than six months ago, came back, word for word, to Varick's mind, as he walked sharply up and down the platform, trying to get warm.