Part 51 (1/2)
”That is my business, Mrs. King, and not yours,” hissed out Susan.
”Indeed, Sister Susan! I am not so sure of that,” said Catherine, quietly. ”But I have not come down here to argue with you, but to give you certain orders which you will have to obey.”
”Orders! from you!--obey you! Why, you must be mad!”
”You think so!” continued Catherine, as quietly as ever. ”Well, to begin with, I know why you have been down here so much lately. I know whom you are hunting down.”
”Catherine King! too much learning has made you mad!” exclaimed Susan, with a derisive laugh which could not conceal the uneasiness she really felt.
”Mad, perhaps; but not so mad that I cannot put a stop--and at once, too--to all this plotting of yours, Sister Susan.”
”I have no fear of you now, Mrs. King, I can a.s.sure you.”
”But you have of the gallows.”
”It strikes me that those same gallows would have to string you up as well, O my accomplice! O great centre of the Sisterhood!” replied Susan with a bow, and in tones of mock politeness.
Catherine looked at her contemptuously and said, ”I am not a coward like you. Do you imagine that fear of death would deter me from anything?
Life has nothing for me now. I tell you, woman! that if I was to be hanged to-morrow, the knowledge would trouble me far less than the discovery of one new grey hair in your head, or of one fresh wrinkle on your face, would trouble you. I may tell you that I _am_ dying. An incurable disease of the heart is hurrying me to the grave; and it is sweet to me to know this, I am so weary of this world. But enough of that--you know me by this time. Now, Susan Riley, I intend to prevent you from carrying out your scheme of vengeance against that girl. I warn you to desist, or I shall have to make matters very unpleasant for you.”
Susan here made a gesture of impatience, and withdrawing herself from Catherine's grasp, commenced to walk down the road. The Chief let her go, but walked by the side of her and continued: ”Very well, Sister Susan, we will walk on if you like it better. Certainly we will attract less attention than if we stand discussing in one spot--not that I care who sees, or even overhears us, for that matter.”
”Be quick, then, and let me hear what you have to say--then leave me,”
said Susan, in a sullen voice.
”That is exactly what I intend to do. I shall leave you as soon as I have brought you to reason. Now mark me, Susan Riley! I intend to call on Dr. Duncan to-morrow. I shall tell him all about the Society--that is, all that is necessary for my purpose--and without endangering anyone. I shall also tell him all your history, and acquaint him of your plots against his wife.”
”And hang yourself as well as me!”
”Not necessarily. Dr. Duncan will not make use of his information except in self-defence. He will not molest you unless you become dangerous to him.”
”Traitor that you are and mad-woman!” cried Susan, pa.s.sionately, ”What are you doing? You inveigled us all into this precious scheme of yours, and then betrayed us on account of this miserable hysterical girl. And now--”
”Stop!” interrupted Catherine, sternly, ”I never betrayed you. I would not sanction an unnecessary a.s.sa.s.sination; on this you all deserted me.
But the work you are engaged on now is in no way connected with the Society, you are merely satisfying your private malice. I have been watching you for some time, Sister Susan; and I intend to take the sting out of you before I leave you to-day.”
”I do not fear you,” replied Susan with a forced carelessness of manner.
”You have no hold upon me. Now come, Sister Catherine! after all, what could you prove against me that could do me much injury? Why, absolutely nothing!”
”So you think that, do you? so you defy my power!” said Catherine with the same quiet smile of a.s.surance that had made Susan's heart sink before. ”Well! I shall have to go into details, that is all. Now, listen to what I have to say, Susan! I am quite aware that little could be made out of your connection with the Society, seeing that we never carried our scheme into action, save on one occasion, by the way, I think you had something to do with that, a barrister was it not? Private malice was not the least of your motives then, too.” She paused and seemed to enjoy the sight of Susan's blanching face. ”But let that matter pa.s.s. It would be difficult to bring that home to you.”
”Impossible,” said Susan, recovering a little of her courage.
”I think you are right,” went on Catherine in the same calm voice, ”I am not so foolish as to threaten you with that charge; but I will go on to other little doings of yours which I imagine will be more to the purpose.”
Susan looked up and felt all her courage ooze out again when she read the expression on her companion's face. She felt that Catherine was playing with her as a cat plays with a mouse, certain of being able to secure her prey when the fancy takes her to extend her claw.
The woman spoke again, but now in stern and earnest tones.