Part 85 (1/2)
”And so do I,” said Helen. ”Indeed, it is not us you have wronged. But oh, I _am_ glad, for Nancy's sake, that you repent.”
”Miss, I'll go through fire and water for you,” said Wylie, lifting up his head.
Here old Michael came in to say that Arthur Wardlaw was at the door, with a policeman.
”Show him in,” said Robert.
”Oh, no, Robert!” said Helen. ”He fills me with horror.”
”Show him in,” said Robert, gently. ”Sit down, all of you.”
Now Burt had not told Arthur who was in the house, so he came, rather uneasy in his mind, but still expecting only to see Helen.
Robert Penfold told Helen to face the door, and the rest to sit back; and this arrangement had not been effected one second, when Arthur came in, with a lover's look, and, taking two steps into the room, saw the three men waiting to receive him. At sight of Penfold, he started and turned pale as ashes; but, recovering himself, said: ”My dearest Helen, this is indeed an unexpected pleasure. You will reconcile me to one whose worth and innocence I never doubted, and tell him I have had some little hand in clearing him.”
His effrontery was received in dead silence. This struck cold to his bones, and, being naturally weak, he got violent. He said, ”Allow me to send a message to my servant.”
He then tore a leaf out of his memorandum-book, wrote on it: ”Robert Penfold is here; arrest him directly, and take him away”; and, inclosing this in an envelope, sent it out to Burt by Nancy.
Helen seated herself quietly, and said, ”Mr. Wardlaw, when did Mr. Hand go to America?”
Arthur stammered out, ”I don't know the exact date.”
”Two or three months ago?”
”Yes.”
”Then the person you sent to me to tell me that falsehood was not Mr.
Hand?”
”I sent n.o.body.”
”Oh, for shame! for shame! Why have you set spies? Why did you make away with my prayer-book; or what you thought was my prayer-book? Here _is_ my prayer-book, that proves you had the _Proserpine_ destroyed; and I should have lost my life but for another, whom you had done your best to destroy. Look Robert Penfold in the face, if you can.”
Arthur's eyes began to waver. ”I can,” said he. ”I never wronged him. I always lamented his misfortune.”
”You were not the cause?”
”Never!--so help me Heaven!”
”Monster!” said Helen, turning away in contempt and horror.
”Oh, that is it--is it?” said Arthur, wildly. ”You break faith with me for _him?_ You insult me for _him?_ I must bear anything from you, for I love you; but, at least, I will sweep _him_ out of the path.”
He ran to the door, opened it, and there was Burt, listening.
”Are you an officer?”
”Yes.”