Part 88 (2/2)

”I don't understand,” she said. ”For Heaven's sake explain yourself!”

”Haven't you heard about the anonymous letters?” asked Mrs. Glenarm.

Yes. Lady Lundie had heard about the letters. But only what the public in general had heard. The name of the lady in the background not mentioned; and Mr. Geoffrey Delamayn a.s.sumed to be as innocent as the babe unborn. Any mistake in that a.s.sumption? ”Give me your hand, my poor dear, and confide it all to _me!_”

”He is not quite innocent,” said Mrs. Glenarm. ”He owned to a foolish flirtation--all _her_ doing, no doubt. Of course, I insisted on a distinct explanation. Had she really any claim on him? Not the shadow of a claim. I felt that I only had his word for that--and I told him so.

He said he could prove it--he said he knew her to be privately married already. Her husband had disowned and deserted her; she was at the end of her resources; she was desperate enough to attempt any thing. I thought it all very suspicious--until Geoffrey mentioned the man's name.

_That_ certainly proved that he had cast off his wife; for I myself knew that he had lately married another person.”

Lady Lundie suddenly started up from her pillow--honestly agitated; genuinely alarmed by this time.

”Mr. Delamayn told you the man's name?” she said, breathlessly.

”Yes.”

”Do I know it?”

”Don't ask me!”

Lady Lundie fell back on the pillow.

Mrs. Glenarm rose to ring for help. Before she could touch the bell, her ladys.h.i.+p had rallied again.

”Stop!” she cried. ”I can confirm it! It's true, Mrs. Glenarm! it's true! Open the silver box on the toilet-table--you will find the key in it. Bring me the top letter. Here! Look at it. I got this from Blanche.

Why have they suddenly given up their bridal tour? Why have they gone back to Sir Patrick at Ham Farm? Why have they put me off with an infamous subterfuge to account for it? I felt sure something dreadful had happened. Now I know what it is!” She sank back again, with closed eyes, and repeated the words, in a fierce whisper, to herself. ”Now I know what it is!”

Mrs. Glenarm read the letter. The reason given for the suspiciously sudden return of the bride and bridegroom was palpably a subterfuge--and, more remarkable still, the name of Anne Silvester was connected with it. Mrs. Glenarm became strongly agitated on her side.

”This _is_ a confirmation,” she said. ”Mr. Brinkworth has been found out--the woman _is_ married to him--Geoffrey is free. Oh, my dear friend, what a load of anxiety you have taken off my mind! That vile wretch--”

Lady Lundie suddenly opened her eyes.

”Do you mean,” she asked, ”the woman who is at the bottom of all the mischief?”

”Yes. I saw her yesterday. She forced herself in at Swanhaven. She called him Geoffrey Delamayn. She declared herself a single woman. She claimed him before my face in the most audacious manner. She shook my faith, Lady Lundie--she shook my faith in Geoffrey!”

”Who is she?”

”Who?” echoed Mrs. Glenarm. ”Don't you even know that? Why her name is repeated half a dozen times in this letter!”

Lady Lundie uttered a scream that rang through the room. Mrs. Glenarm started to her feet. The maid appeared at the door in terror. Her ladys.h.i.+p motioned to the woman to withdraw again instantly, and then pointed to Mrs. Glenarm's chair.

”Sit down,” she said. ”Let me have a minute or two of quiet. I want nothing more.”

The silence in the room was unbroken until Lady Lundie spoke again.

She asked for Blanche's letter. After reading it carefully, she laid it aside, and fell for a while into deep thought.

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