Part 64 (2/2)
”Did they tell you that I learned, through a scheming rascal in the guise of a detective, that a plot was growing against you; that I sent for Ray Vandyck, and set him over you as a temporary guardian? And that I sent next for Detective Bathurst, warning him that you were surrounded by enemies. Did they tell you that, when I learned of your arrest, I left my place by Sybil Lamotte, who is delirious and yet clings to me constantly, and came to them, offering them all my fortune if they would only save me you?”
”Did you do this--Constance?”
”I have done this. Have I not earned the right, openly, before all the world, to be your champion, your truest friend, your--”
”My queen! my darling! my very own!”
All his calm is gone, all his haughtiness of bearing; with one swift movement he s.n.a.t.c.hes her to his heart, and she rests in his embrace, shocked at her own boldness, and unspeakably happy.
Who dare intrude upon a lover's interview? Who dares to s.n.a.t.c.h the first coy love words from a maiden's lips, and give them to a world grown old in love making, and appraising each tender word by its own calloused old heart?
For the time all is forgotten, save one fact, they love each other well.
By and by, other thoughts come, forcing their way like unwelcome guests.
”Constance,” he says, after a long interval, ”you have made me anything but indifferent to my fate. Now I shall begin to struggle for my freedom; but--do you realize what a network of false testimony they have woven about me?”
”Do I realize it?” she cried. ”Yes, far more than you do, or can, and--you said something about Frank Lamotte. Has he sought to injure you?”
”Constance, I thought you knew,” turning upon her a look of surprise. ”I thought you knew his guilt. Who, but Frank Lamotte, could gain access to my office, to purloin my handkerchief and my knife? He had a duplicate key, and--_I found that key in the old cellar beside the body of John Burrill_.”
The look of perplexity on her face deepens into one of actual distress.
Could it be, that after all, Frank had forestalled that other one?
Back upon her memory came his words, ”I can save him if I will.” Where there is room for doubt there is room for hope. What if another hand had antic.i.p.ated that of the paid a.s.sa.s.sin? She resolved to cling to this hope with desperation.
If there was evidence so strong against Frank Lamotte, let him take her lover's place. Why not? She began to see many things in a new light; she peered forward, catching a view of the partial truth, ”as in a gla.s.s, darkly.” One thing was clear, however, they must act at once! No time must be lost!
She sat before him thinking thus, yet seemingly powerless to act or speak!
”Constance. Has the possibility of Frank Lamotte's guilt, overwhelmed you?”
”The possibility!” she exclaimed, starting up suddenly. ”No. I know him capable of baser things than murder.”
”Of baser things! My darling, what do you mean?”
”Don't ask me now; there is no time to waste in talking of him; I am going straight to your lawyers this moment; I am going to send them to you, and you shall tell them every thing.”
”Despot!” His eyes devouring her.
”Of course! I am always that. They will say it is time some one took you in charge. Are you going to be dumb any more?”
”Never! My lips are unsealed from this hour; since you have dared to claim and take a share in my fate, and since I have not the courage to put so much happiness from me.”
”Supposing it in your power?”
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