Part 23 (2/2)
”I repeat what I have said. You intend that the ruin that threatens you shall fall upon Lolita. In plain words, you will sacrifice her, in order to save yourself!”
”And who's been telling you this interesting untruth, pray?” she asked.
”I thought you knew Lolita sufficiently well to be aware that I have, ever since my marriage to George, been her friend.”
”To her face yes, but in secret no.”
”You are insulting me, Mr Woodhouse,” she exclaimed, her eyes flas.h.i.+ng.
”I have always been Lolita's friend.”
”Then prove your friends.h.i.+p by telling the truth concerning her,” I said, ”the truth known equally to Marie Lejeune with yourself--the truth that can save her from this unfounded charge against her.”
I made a blind shot, and stood watching its effect upon the brilliant woman.
A slight hardness showed at the corners of her mouth, and a strange light shone in her eyes as she realised that I knew the truth, how she had cleverly sought to deceive me by her false declaration of that love for her husband which she had a.s.suredly never entertained.
”I didn't know there was any charge against her. What is it?” she inquired calmly.
”Prevarication is useless. Lady Stanchester,” I said determinedly.
”Richard Keene has come here to get you to tell the truth concerning Lady Lolita. You have refused, and he has threatened you with exposure.
You, on your part, have retaliated by threatening him, hence the position at this moment is that he fears to speak lest he should incur your revenge, while you refuse to speak the truth and remove suspicion from Lolita. You intend, therefore, that she shall fall the innocent victim. But recollect that I am her friend, and I will save her, even if compelled to go to George and tell him everything.”
She bit her lip. I could see that it had never crossed her mind, that, being her husband's friend, I might lay bare the truth to him and expose the fact that Richard Keene and Mr Smeeton were one and the same.
”Ah! So you intend to give me away?” she remarked, with a quick shrug of the shoulders.
”I have no wish to do anything that will tend to cause a breach between you and your husband,” I answered. ”I merely say that I intend to stand as Lolita's friend, and to-night I shall go north, see her, and explain all I know. She will be interested, no doubt, to hear that a friend of your pre-matrimonial days is here as your husband's guest.”
”Then you're going to tell her?” she asked with a quick start, and I saw by the way her eyebrows had contracted that she was devising some plan to counteract my intentions.
”I shall act just as I think proper, Lady Stanchester,” I responded.
”In this affair I have the good name of only one person to consider--the person whom you declare it is absurd for me to regard with affection.”
”And so you mean to place me in a very invidious position by telling tales to everybody?” she exclaimed with a supercilious smile. ”Well,”
she added, ”go up to Scotland and see her, if you like. Tell her whatever you think proper; it will be all the same to me.”
”Why?”
”Because I shall still retain the knowledge which I hold, and she cannot--she will not dare to--do anything to injure me. If she does, Mr Woodhouse--if she does--then I'll speak the truth--a truth that will astound you, and cause you to regret that you ever interfered in my affairs, or ever sought to befriend a woman guilty of a crime.”
”Guilty of a crime!” I echoed. ”What crime do you allege against Lady Lolita?”
She merely laughed triumphantly in my face.
”I demand a reply to my question,” I cried angrily.
”Ask her yourself. It is not for me to denounce her before she has sought my downfall.”
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