Part 28 (1/2)
”Very well, I'm listening.”
It had come about, that return of composure, more quickly than a stranger would have thought possible, perhaps more quickly than the visitor had expected. At least for a moment he did not follow the obvious lead.
”Particularly I'm waiting for an explanation of that word 'justified' you used.” The voice this time was low. ”You recall you said 'justifiable action,' do you not?”
”Somewhat justifiable, yes.”
Randall looked straight before him.
”Don't you agree with me?” added Roberts.
”Frankly, no. I admit I'm bia.s.sed, however--at least I trust I'm not a cad, unable to acknowledge a deficiency when shown.”
”Or to administer the remedy, providing that remedy is proved innocuous?”
”Yes; I trust that also.”
”Very well, we'll return to 'justifiable' qualified. It will make things easier perhaps. You don't wonder how I happen to know about your trouble?”
”There could be only one explanation.”
”Thank you. That simplifies matters also.” A halt; then the fundamental question direct: ”Will you trust me to help you, trust me unqualifiedly?”
”Yes,” no hesitation, no amplification, just that single word, ”yes.”
Darley Roberts remained for a moment quite still.
”Thank you, again,” he said. ”I have had few compliments in my life, and that is one.” Again he sat quite still, all but the great hands, the only feature of him that ever showed restlessness or rebellion. ”To begin with,” he resumed suddenly, ”I am a lawyer, not a preacher. My business is with marriage the contract, not marriage the sacrament. Sentiment has no place in law. Contracts are promises to deliver certain tangible considerations; otherwise there would be none. Again contracts are specified or implied; but morally equally binding, equally inviolable. In the eye of the law when you married Margery Cooper you contracted, by implication, to deliver certain considerations, chief among them one purely psychological--happiness. By implication you did this. Is it not so?”
”Yes, by implication.”
”Have you fulfilled that contract?”
”I have tried.”
”The law does not recognize attempts. We're ignoring the Church and sentiment now. Have you fulfilled your contract?”
”No; I failed.”
”You admit it freely?”
”Yes; I can't do otherwise.”
”Let's drop the legal point of view then. You know why you failed?”
”Yes, and no. A contract carries a mutual obligation. Margery failed also.”
Roberts flashed a look.
”Do you desire a separation, too?” incisively.