Part 42 (1/2)
”What people?” asked Riviere uneasily.
”At the nursing home I can see that they regard you as lovers. A woman realises a point like that instinctively. No word was said, but I _know_.... Things can't remain stationary in a situation of that kind.
You know it as well as I do. You are a man of strong pa.s.sions.... Miss Verney is highly-strung, very impressionable.”
And then Olive made her one big mistake. She added: ”She confessed to me that--how shall I put it?--that it would be dangerous for her to see more of you.”
”Miss Verney told you that?”
”In effect.”
”I don't believe it!”
”It's as true as I sit here!”
”I don't believe it for a moment!”
”She said even more than that.”
”What?”
”That she would be ready to live with you, divorce or no divorce. Don't you see the danger now? Clifford, I appeal to your chivalry! For her sake cut loose now, at once, before it's too late! Say good-bye to her by letter; leave me to arrange the allowance----”
”I tell you I must see her!”
”No!”
”I _must_!”
Olive lost control of herself. ”I'm your wife! I forbid you to!” she ordered sharply.
Riviere stiffened. ”You told me a fortnight ago you never wanted to see me again.”
”I've changed my mind!”
”There's a reason for the change.”
”I've told you the reasons!”
”Not all the reasons.”
”D'you doubt my word?”
Riviere's business training made him recognize the true meaning of that phrase. He had heard it so many times before from men who were planning some shady trick. He answered decisively: ”I've the right to hear from Miss Verney herself what she said to you this afternoon, and I'm going to hear it. That's final!”
Olive was now chalk-white with rage. Every nerve of her body was quivering, but by a supreme effort she regained control over her words.
”You're insulting me!” she returned. ”You doubt my word when I tell you that Miss Verney is ready to become your mistress. Very well, come with me and I'll repeat it in front of her.”
”No.”